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SPRING -SUMMER 1974 $1.25 by the Editors of ELEMENTARY ELECTRONICS
Compass Galvanometer
Solid -Stale Flashlight
FET VHF Converter
Digital Timepiece
Scrambled Hotline Packs an IC and Pulls In BCB
See page 25
LEADER IN ELECTRONICS
1 TRAINING
6 HANDS-ON TRAINING
To give practical application to your studies, a
Over the years, Sylvania Resident Schools have variety of valuable kits are included in many
trained thousands of men and women for key programs. In Sylvania's Master TV /Radio Ser-
positions in the electronics field. Now, through vicing Program, you will actually build and keep
Sylvania Home Training, you can receive the an all solid -state black and white TV set, and a
samehigh -qualitycareertraining at home. In your color TV set. You also construct an oscilloscope
spare time. While you hold your present job. which is yours to keep and use on the job.
Name
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ELECTRONICS HOBBYIST
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1974 EDITION
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New York office prepaid $1.25 per copy. Copyright 1973 by
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ELECTRONICS HOBBYIST
Weak Leads
I was building an RCA Digital Display IC
project kit No. KC4011. The IC leads broke
and wondered
I if you knew where I could get'
a replacement? The IC number is RCA KD-
2127 -303.
-R.E., Brooklyn NY
ICs are not noted for their strong leads. In
fact, I find daisy petals show a questioning
lover a tougher pull than an IC can. As for a
replacement, go back to the store where you
purchased the kit. The chances are the store
carries the RCA IC line. If not, then write to
Circuit Specialists Co., Box 3047, Scottsdale
AZ 85257. They will help you.
lines
°
coil has and multiply that by the current in name P
amperes, and then by a constant 1.257 to get
gilberts. The Handbook of Electronic Tables A superstore of electronics at your fingertips
(a Tab Books publication) gave me the answer
to this one. Stereo /4- Channel Sound SystemsTape Record-
ers and Accessories Radios Phonos Kits
Color Me Blue Amateur and Shortwave Gear Citizens and
I have a resistor (I know it's a resistor be- Antennas Police /Fire VHF -UHF Radios Electronic
cause the resistance is almost zero) that I Calculators and Timepieces Security Test
can't measure on my ohmmeter accurately. Equipment 1000's of Parts, Tubes, Batteries,
You see, it is practically a short circuit. The Wire, Hardware
color code is black, brown, black, red. What
the heck is it? Exclusive TELEDYNE and OLSON Audio Products
-L.M., Ashland WI mail this coupon today
It is a resistor, you can be sure. It is a one -
ohm job rated at 2% tolerance. When the first
free
I
band is black, the first digit is zero. The sec- Electronics Dept. CS
260 S. Forge St., Akron, Ohio 44327
Send me my FREE 1974 Olson Catalog
Hank Scott, our Workshop Editor, wants to
share his project tips with you. Got a question
or a problem with a project you're building
ask Hank! Please remember that Hank's col-
- Name
Street
State
Apt
A Hot Wire .
OX OSCILLATOR Crystal
no wire recorder to play it on. Do you know
EX CRYSTAL Available
controlled transistor type. from 3,000 KHz to 60,000 .of any way can hear that recording?
I
POWER AMP. A Single cutters and they don't work too good. Can you
tuned output amplifier to CRYSTAL MFG. CO., INC.
follow the OX oscillator. 10 NO. LEE OKLA. CITY, OKLA. 73102
help, Hank?
3,000 to 30,000 KHz $3.75 Write for FREE Catalog -W.S., Kansas City MO
CIRCLE NO. 4 ON PAGE 15 OR 106 Seems you never heard of the famous Greenley
punches. In the old days every experimenter
had a set to punch holes for 7- and 9 -pin
miniature tubes and 8 -pin octals. I've never
owned one, but I hear they make a punch for
meters -that's up to 3- inches diameter. I also
have a set of square punches made in Japan.
Don't know where you can buy a set today,
but look in the parts catalogs.
EICO 1064 Dual purpose Battery EICO 888 Portable Universal En- it!
Eliminator and Charger incorporat-
ing an extra low ripple filter circuit.
gine Analyzer. Keeps your car or
boat engine in tip -top shape. Com-
-S.L., Atlanta GA
Ideal for servicing and powering plete with "How -to -Use" tune -up Sorry, but your customer is right, SCA offers
6 -12 volt auto and marine equip - and troubleshooting manual. Kit a service to business. If you as a private citizen
ment. $64.95 Kit $84.95 Wired $54.95 Wired $79.95 want to enjoy the music from SCA, it's okay.
EICO 1080 200 watt Solid State EICO 889 Solid StateC -D Ignition But share it with your customers and you're
Power Inverter and Battery Charg- System adds power to any engine
er. Converts 12 volts DC to 117V,
in for trouble. The law is on the side of the
Boosts gas mileage up to 20 %.
AC current. For use in cars, mobile Points and spark plugs last up to 5 radio station transmitting the SCA program.
homes and boats to operate record- times longer. instant cold weather Listen to your customer and remove the SCA
ers. appliances, etc. Kit $44.95
Wired $59.95
starting. Kit $29.95 Wired $39.95
adaptor from the store.
FREE 32 PAGE EICO CATALOG Don't Do It
For latest catalog on EICO Test Instruments, Stereo, EICOCRAFT If I were to get an old WWII surplus walkie-
Projects, Environmental Lighting, Burglar /Fire Alarm Systems, talkie, could it be converted to Citizen's Band
and name of nearest EICO Distributor, check Reader Service
Card or send 256 for First Class mall service. use?
EICO, 283 Malta Street, Brooklyn, N.Y. 11207 -C.W., Buffalo IL
That's right, don't do it. First off, considering
CIRCLE NO. 2 ON PAGE 15 OR 106 the cost of parts today, it would be cheaper
ELECTRONICS HOBBYIST
to pick up an inexpensive car -battery -operated QSL Swapper
CB rig for under $75, and have three channels Hi, Old Man. I'd like to swap my QSL cards
to work. Also, since you asked the question, 1 for yours. What do you say?
assume you don't have the measurements labo- -D.W., Rego Park NY
ratory to go with your work shop. You see, No. forward QSL cards to only those I con-
1
you've got to check out and certify the rig tact on the air. And since I have been working
to meet FCC requirements before you go on 2 meters for the past year, I have no exciting
the air. See what I mean? It's cheaper to buy DX requests for my QSL. Just as well, I'd
in this case! rather spend the time answering letters.
Stop -Help Needed
Pops the Question that I would
I have a pocket -size tape recorder
If Iset up the correct electromagnetic radio like to fit with an automatic end -of -reel stop
field, can I cure acne? circuit. How can I do It?
-H.U., Baltimore MD -G.F.P., Los Altos CA
I never saw a dead man with pimple problems.
What are you trying to do, become a teenage My first impulse is to tell you to forget the
quack? If soap and water plus diet does not idea, but-why not? First, remember that any-
help you (it didn't help me when I was young), thing you add to the recorder should not inter-
see your family doctor. Follow his advice and fere with the normal action of tape against tape
use those tank circuits on 20 meters. head. Also, try not to add magnetic parts that
come near the tape heads or tape. Now, install
Transistor Substitution a "micro" lever- action switch on the recorder's
Where can I locate information pertaining to front panel near the tape path. Next add a cop-
Japanese- manufactured transistors? per wire shaft to the lever so that it rest against
-J.L., Philadelphia PA the taut tape. Slip a plastic pulley over the
Howard W. Sams and Tab Books both publish copper wire so that as the tape passes by the
a transistor guide for all American and most pulley will rotate, reducing the friction on the
foreign types. Also, HEP (Motorola) and tape. The taut tape should hold the switch
Radio Shack have substitution guides for their action closed. When the tape ends and passes
replacement line. Check them all out. I prefer completely onto the take-up reel, the spring
the HEP Booklet. action of the switch will automatically open the
A--\1- AVÍSE ®
ASSEMRLIES DIRCUT
ADDRESS
ELECTRONICS HOBBYIST
NEW PRODUCTS
This Piano is a Lightweight parts, screws, washers, nails, model parts, art
Now from Earth -the portable electronic tools or materials ... a myriad of small items.
piano that really strikes up the band. Ideal They're ideal for use at the hobby or work
for the traveling musician, this portable, bench, tool room, crafts room or sewing room,
lightweight twenty -five pound electronic piano to name a few. For more information, circle
may be plugged into any size amplifier for No. 56 on Reader Service Coupon.
the reproduction of true piano sound.
Equipped with three tabs for sound changes, Electronic Air Purifier
the piano is able to create a variety of sound The new Heathkit GD -1003 electronic air puri-
fier removes up to 99% of all pollens and
mold spores and up to 95% of all other air-
borne contaminants, regardless of size or
concentration. It easily cleans the air in a
rrir r,r<
400 sq. ft. room, and the completely self-
SPRING-SUMMER, 1974
Electronics Hobbyist readers
NEW
from the Editor of ing cycle -an 8,000 volt initial ionizing stage,
i0 HI -FI STEREO BUYERS° GUIDE followed by a 4,000 volt collecting stage. A
two -speed switch allows movement of large
When you play your recordings you want the volumes of air in the "high" position and pro-
best hi -fi components you can get. HI -Fl vides whisper -quiet continuous operations in
STEREO BUYERS' GUIDE tells you what they
are, and whose equipment to buy. In addi- the "low" position. Cleaning is easy -simply
tion to useful, authoritative articles on hi -fi flip off the rear grille screen, lift out the col-
componentry, every issue includes a new lector cell and wash in plain detergent and
products Show Case, unbiased Tested in the water. The activated charcoal deodorant filters
Lab reports on quality hi -fi components, and also slip out easily for replacement when
Record and Tape Reviews on the Classics needed. Price $139.95. Get all the facts by
and Pops." circling No. 1 on Reader Service Coupon.
Let HI -Fl STEREO BUYERS' GUIDE into your
music life right now. Published four times a One Station FM Receiver
year, every issue is jammed full Fixtune Electronics announces a new FM table
of information to aid you in a receiver with a crystal -controlled front end
fuller enjoyment of your records
and tapes. and integrated circuitry that assures a fre-
quency accuracy of .01 %. This one station
Make certain you get each ex-
citing issue by taking advan-
tage TODAY of a special
MONEY- SAVING introductory
offer. Instead of receiving four
issues; a ful year subscription at the regular
$5.00 rate, you receive an extra issue, an
immediate saving to you of $1.25. Just mail
the coupon below, with your payment, to
HI -Fl STEREO BUYERS' GUIDE, P.O. Box
2600, Greenwich, Conn. 06830.
r
PAY CASH & SAVE UP TO $2.50
Address
NAME
ADDRESS
CITY
STATE ZIP
Not Valid After July 31. 1974
d
12 ELECTRONICS HOBBYIST
NEW PRODUCTS
How Loud is Loud sources in industrial and other environments,
A rugged new, hand -size, easy-to- read-and- has been introduced by the Triplett Corpora-
operate Sound Level Meter (SLM), designed to tion. The Triplett Model 370 is intended for
economically determine sound pressure levels rapid survey and periodic checks in such
and to help pinpoint "noise pollution" noise environments as those found in fac-
tories and offices, for measuring automotive,
halls, studios and auditoriums, hospitals,
"K.A.a.t.A.C.1.irpwE* household appliances, and other worlds of
EASTERN AIR
sound. The lightweight Model 370 has an op-
Oäy}CES
....sM......,.
orr
erational range of from 40 dB to 140 dB in
TYPE 45t SOwfAti LEYfL MET% nine steps, features an omni- directional lead -
mu m.% $73c Mß zirconate- titanate ceramic microphone and
MONO
lPEt.-d9C selectable A, B, and C weighted response,
and provides switch selectable "fast" and
"slow" meter response. Complete with bat-
teries and instruction manual, the Triplett
Model 370 Sound Level Meter, Catalog
#3130, is priced at $250. Available acces-
sories include leather carrying case and neck
strap, microphone caps, wind screens, and
a rugged molded carrying case for the SLM,
a calibrator and other ancillary equipment.
For further information on the Triplett Model
370 SLM and accessories, circle No. 48 on
Reader Service Coupon.
Shelves to Order
System Plus is the new easy do- it- yourself
shelf idea from PMI. A low cost easy shelf sys-
tem is now available to the consumer for of-
137. Pace Communications has a ber- damped midrange, and two 3-
4: packet of information for you. The inch dome tweeters from Designers
"Citizens two-way radio" answers Audio Products.
all the questions from how to op-
erate one to how much they will 144. For a packetful of material.
cost to operate. A booklet on Pace's send for SBE's material on UHF and
Use Coupon on Left! scan /monitors to keep you informed VHF scanners, CB mobile trans-
is included. ceivers, walkie- talkies, slow -scan
TV systems, marine -radios, two -
ONI
<.
;,
,_.:
Ca
.,x
. .1 . .IrN..,
].y.4
Wt]1f
The coupon below is designed for your convenience. Just circle the
numbers that appear next to the advertisement or editorial mention that
interests you. Then, carefully print your name and address on the
coupon. Cut out the coupon and mail to ELECTRONICS HOBBYIST, Box
886, Ansonia Station, New York. N.Y. 10023. Do it today!
right sent to me as 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30
soon as possible. un-
I
31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40
derstand that this is a
free service offered by 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50
the magazine. 51 52 53 54 55 56 57 58 59 60
Name (Print Clearly)
Address
City State lip Code
Voltage Indicator
Procon has recently introduced a Voltage In-
dicator that plugs into any standard wall out-
let. It provides an instant warning when the
power falls below a safe level for operating
household appliances. The attractive unit has
16 ELECTRONICS HOBBYIST
You Learn to
Make Money
...with CIE's
Electronics
Laboratory!
Now you can learn Electronics by performing
"It's his birthday, and I'd like to "Why don't you use the phone,
surprise him with some of those colored the way other women do ?"
things you put in those black boxes ..."
P.
You must have won some kind of "Hi! Your wife told my wife you're
contest ...you just got a special good at this electronic stuff, and
delivery letter from the FCC!" I thought you could take a look at ..."
18 ELECTRONICS HOBBYIST
boB
ELECTRONICS
IR
J .)
iPIái'N
31130TITITIET
Turn a
[f ;GLyZ
few parts into the darndest dig tal calendar -clock you've ever seen!
by C. R. Lewart
You can see the advantages of a digital clock! Particularly this one!
It has big, bright, bold numerals that display time, date, and your
electronic interest and skill to all who view it. And as you would
expect, we turn a complex electronic instrument -the digital clock -
into a very elementary electronic project!
How did we do it? By putting together the ideal marriage of a
popular clock -on -a -chip IC (integrated circuit) and a new fluorescent -
anode type display tube that can be driven directly by an IC.
What does that mean to you? A set of twenty driver transistors you
don't need; extensive wiring on a high -priced circuit board you don't
need; an extra high -voltage power supply for cold- cathode display tubes
you don't need. And there's more.
Convert to a 24 -hour clock in a snap. Flip a switch on the rear
panel to convert your clock immediately to a 24- or 12 -hour time
display. Plus, a pair of ordinary 9 -volt transistor radio batteries keep
things ticking electronically while you move from one outlet to another
or until a power interruption or brownout is over. This little trick is
done with a built -in oscillator that feeds the counter until 60 (or 50)
Hz voltage is restored. Yep! there's even a switch that gives the
correct time from either a 50 or 60 Hz power line.
As You Can See, the electronic clock described here was designed
to provide a large number of features and make construction simple.
SPRING- SUMMER, 1974 1
muuuurnununuuuuxununuuuuuunuuuuuuuunuuuuuuuunuuuunununnmunnmmmm11mnmununnuuuununuuuumm11unuunmu uuuummumm11uununuuunuuunuuunnnnmuuunm
ELECTRONIC
CLOCK QI
BOTTOM VIEW
Eight of the ten connections C41
C3
made to each display tube are
shown opposite this page in the
.I U FI .0IMF
R2 = R4
shaded area. For example, the E B C 68K 47K
SI
SA segment of a display tube
(pin connection 9) is connected to pin nine
of all the display tubes as well as to IC 1
RI
pin 15 and R13. Only grid G (pin 5) of 50K
each tube has a separate connection to the OSCADJ
HOLD
integrated circuit. For display tube DS it 1
pin 3; for DS 2, it is IC
3 9K
is IC 1 pin 4,
1
et cetera. A
D3
D4 o
BLUE _
12VRED
CI -40MF co
o U
TO BLK BROWN+ b x
z
II7VAC
12VSLATE
D5 C2- v
50 OR BLK IO0M FT+
60 H z GR/YEL R5 m
t6V 8211
o
Lp___/ YEL
SA SB
DISPLAY TUBE FILAMENTS
SF SG
SC
SE
3 3 63 6 3 6 3 6 63 C
OSI DS2 DS3 DS4 DS5 DS6 b R6
01 10K
HEP7I5 BRIGHTNESS
SD
20 ELECTRONICS HOBBYIST
uuuuuuuuuuunuuwuuuuuuumnunuunuuuuunuuuuuuuuuuwuuuuuunuuunnunuwuuuuuuuuuuunuummuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuunuumuuunmunuuunuuuuuuuun,w
ICI
MOSTEK 501788 12
18
21 R 20
8.2K
17
22 C5
8 15 14 13 12 II IO 9 IIDOpF
DI, D2,D4,D5
-H 1}-
D3,D6,D7,D8,D9
M MO M I SEC
lIUI
mlui
.ME.
AiIa
SNEMil
111W Ame
US6MEM
10 SEC
IO
IHR
MIN /I DAY
10 HRS
MIN /10 DAY
/I MONTH
/10 MONTH
MMEMEMIC= R19
The hookup connections
associated with a given
display tube are indicated
R7TORI2=68K RI3TOR19=150K with two horizontal lines
immediately above and
below the DS1 to DS6 reference designation
Box 269, Geneva IL 60134 for name and in the shaded area. The upper line for each
address of nearest local dealer; or write to display tube shows the seven segments (SA to
Circuit Specialists Co., Box 3047, Scottsdale
SG); the lower, the G terminal. Refer to the
AZ 85257 enclosing $5.00 for each unit
required, shipped postpaid. NL -8051 base connection diagram at far left.
1C1- Mostek 501788 (available from Circuit
Specialists Co., Box 3047, Scottsdale AZ 52, 53, S5 -Spst, neutral center subminiature
85257 for $24.95 postpaid) toggle switch (Radio Shack 275 -325 or equiv.)
Q1- 2N3906 (HEP -715 or equiv.) S4 -Dpdt subminiature toggle switch
R1- 50,000 -ohm potentiometer (Radio Shack 275 -1546 or equiv.)
R2, R7 through R12- 68,000 -ohm, 1 -watt Note: Although switches 53 and S4 should have
resistor been specified as spring- return -to- neutral-
//
R3- 39,000 -ohm, -watt resistor
R4-47,000 -ohm, -watt resistor
position types, they were not because they
are difficult to obtain. If not available, make
R5 -82 -ohm, 1/4 -watt resistor substitution.
R6- 10,000 -ohm potentiometer, miniature type Tl- Filament transformer: 117 VAC to 12V, 12V
(Lafayette 32 -22528 or equiv.) and 12VCT (each isolated) (Stancor P8362 or
R13- R19- 150,000 -ohm, 1/4 -watt resistor equiv.)
R20 -8,200 -ohm, 1/4 -watt resistor Misc. -24 -pin IC socket with solder tabs (Allied
51 -Spst, normally open pushbutton switch, 746 -0906 or equiv.), 3 -in. x 8 -in. x 6 -in.
miniature type preferred (Lafayette 99 -62184 aluminum cabinet, wire, blue or green plastic
or equiv.) light shield, etc.
a- ..
TO PINS 2 (SE)
TO PINS (SD)
I
-TO PINS 4 (SC)
TO PINS I(SF) I
TO PINS 10 (SG)?p
TO PINS 9 (SA) - TO PINS 8 (SB)
Underside of display
board. Seven lengths
of bare No. 18 wire
connect certain pins
of each display tube
together as shown (1
2, 4, 8, 9, 10, 1 1 ).
Let's go over the list of features: More Into. The construction of the clock
A display of time (hours, minutes, and was kept simple by selecting an IC requiring
seconds) alternates with the date (month a minimum number of connections and by
and day of the month). choosing fluorescent display tubes which
At the flip of a switch, the display changes can be driven directly by the IC. The com-
from a 12 -hour to a 24 -hour mode. plete circuit uses, in addition to its IC brain,
A stand -by battery operates the clock four to six display tubes, a power trans-
during power failures (most other clocks former, only a single transistor (if you want
reset to zero even during momentary power brightness control), twenty resistors, five
failures). capacitors, and nine diodes. If you don't
A- simple adjustment of the seconds dis- care about the seconds display, you omit
play is provided, with a hold button to stop two display tubes with associated compo-
the counting and a 50/60 Hz switch to nents. Compare this clock to a well -known
speed up the counting by 20 percent. digital clock kit with over twenty transistors
Display intensity can be adjusted. and over fifty resistors! Anybody even mod-
Multiplexing of the display tubes (a erately handy in electronic construction
sequencing time-system) eliminates a "rat's should have no difficulty building the clock
nest" of wires (display is seen without an- in a few hours.
noying flicker or blanked -out digits). How Does It Work. The MOS integrated
An econotny model cuts out seconds dis- circuit consisting of over a thousand transis-
play, brightness control, battery switchover, tors divides the 50 or 60 Hz line frequency
50/60 Hz and 12/24 -hour switchable fea- into seconds, minutes, hours, days, and
tures, if you wish. months. A decoder on the same IC operates
the individual segments of the display tubes,
A handsome face for your finished clock which are operated in multiplex mode. This
means that the IC sends signals to the first
display tube, then the second, and so forth,
and then starts with the first tube again.
This mode of operation simplifies the wir-
ing to the IC, since all like segments in the
display tubes can be wired in parallel and
connected to a single pin on the IC. There-
fore, seven pins on the IC control the seg-
ments of all the display tubes. Just four or
six other pins on the IC (one per tube used)
control individual tubes with a connection
to their control grids.
Additional logic on the IC provides for
22 _ ELECTRONICS HOBBYIST
SI S5 S4 S3 S2
-
OQI
D2
C5R20(y TI
R2 4
O 11
t
F2
FR15
C2 CI 24 13
) ICI D5
R4 Iv 12
C
DI 1 1-R19
R12-+ r-
RII-c 1-- *-R18
RIO-i r- R 17
RI R9-'
F-
1.-
rI- - r-R16
I
R8j
I
R7-I 1
C
C4 R5
T
alternate time /date and 12/24 -hour display. Top of the board showing a suggested
When the AC power line is disconnected, locatign of all discrete components that are
used in this circuit. Resistors R 7 through
the stand -by battery takes over and an in-
R 19 are grouped as shown to facilitate
ternal oscillator controlled by C4, RI, and their connections to the integrated circuit.
R2 substitutes for the line frequency. To
conserve power, the display tubes are not Construction Hints. Use approximately
lighted during the stand -by operation, but a 41 -in. x 6 -in. piece of perfboard or
the clock runs as usual. vectorboard with holes spaced at 0.1 -in.
Insert the display tube leads into push -in
Display tube mounting using push -in clips.
terminals and run parallel wires between
Stagger the eleven clips as shown and strap
like pins together with bare wire on under- the display segments. Use a socket for the
side of board. See photo on opposite page. IC, but do not insert the IC before all the
construction is finished. Be careful in han-
dling the IC before inserting it. Static elec-
tricity may damage it. The clock case has
to be grounded to the wire connected to pin
(Turn to page 107)
TO IC,
PIN
-- - -----1
I
TO
i- w I
IC, I 150K/1
oo
PIN cr
19 1
2N3906
IN914 cané
TO
TO
o-+IC
22
- - - - -- - - - --1
PIN I 150K
5
I
TO IC,
PIN 2
December display circuit for 24 hour clock
fans. Transistor 2N3904 base is same as 01.
23
SPRING -SUMMER, 1974
Want a quick, easy method to determine 1.7 volts /0.5 mA = 3400 ohms, it follows
component values to use when that R1 must be 12,000 minus 3400 or
you insert an additional transistor amplifier 8600 ohms.
stage in your equipment? The common emit- This leaves only the collector resistor Rc
ter arrangement shown in the diagram can to find. Any resistance should be used that
be used with a reasonable amount of sim- gives the required collector voltage to drive
plicity, stability, and dependability. It has the next stage. The collector voltage should
both voltage and current gain. be kept at least 1 volt over the emitter volt-
Get Started. It is simple to select the cor- age; about 3 volts would be a logical output.
rect values for the components in this cir- The value of resistor Rc can then be easily
cuit. Suppose we have the common variety calculated by 6 -
3 volts / 1 mA = 3000
of a silicon transistor with a beta of over ohms.
20 to be used as a small signal class A am- Lest You Forget. A few things worth re-
plifier stage. membering: A signal at the base affects the
Under these conditions we want about collector current. A positive voltage for an
1 mA in the collector circuit. Let's use an NPN transistor or a negative voltage for a
emitter voltage somewhere between 1/2 and PNP applied to the base raises the collector
2 volts, say 1 volt. The emitter resistor Re current. The common emitter configuration
value will then be 1 volt/ mA = 1000
1 inverts the input signal 180° at the transistor
ohms. output. The common emitter current gain,
Since the base is automatically at 0.7 volt beta, is usually given in the manufacturer's
for a silicon transistor-close to 0.3 volt for data sheet but may quite easily be figured
germanium -the 1 volt emitter sets the base by the equation:
at 1.7 volts.
The current in the divider network of R1 alpha
Beta =
and R2 sholud be 1 or more times as high one minus alpha
as the collector current, which was selected
at 1 mA. The divider current, then, is 0.5 Thus, if alpha is given at 0.98, beta would
-
be:
mA. Use a 6 -volt collector supply, for ex-
ample. To obtain the resistance values of 1 -.98 .02
the divider network simply divide the 6 volt Beta =
collector supply by the divider current of .98 = .98 = -49
0.5 mA. The answer, 12,000 ohms, is the As a general rule alpha is approximately
total divider resistance value. Since R2 is at between .9 and .99; beta is usually between
10 and 1000. The negative number (minus
VDC sign) indicates signal phase inversion.
(COLLECTOR Final Tip. Now you have an inside track
Rc VOLTAGE)
on designing simple, one -stage transistor
amplifiers. If your computations call for an
OUTPUT 8,600 ohms resistor, select the nearest
standard resistance value. The two nearest
values are 8,200 and 9,100 ohms. Either
value is usable in the circuit (the 8,200
R2 being the closer) since they are within 6%
max. of the computed value. You'll find
-±10% change in computed values to have
little effect on the circuits operation. Start
designing, today!
ELECTRONICS HOBBYIST
There's a
T
in that
IC by C. R. Lewart
TERRIFIC
TRF -IC
This is the author's original
mcd-1, built on a small pert
board with a ferrite rod and
coil L1 salvaged from an old
transistor radio. You can do
that or use one of the units
suggested in the parts list. R2 RI LI GI FERRITE ROD
There is a way today for you to get a full full -power 50,000 -watt AM stations listed
measure of low- distortion sound from your for New York City. An ordinary TRF cir-
local AM station, and at the same time gain cuit would be swamped by the high -power
experience in building one of the oldest cir- locals, allowing only one or two stations to
cuits around -the TRF (tuned radio fre- be heard.
quency) radio. As a bonus, you work with Actually, compared to an average super-
an integrated circuit, one of those amazing heterodyne -type pocket transistor radio, the
upersmall bits of etched silicon that do audio quality of our receiver is considerably
big jobs. Here the IC is a small three -lead better, and its sensitivity and selectivity
unit that looks like a transistor but actually closely approach the superhet. The radio
contains ten. Inside, an RF signal (the sta- drives high- impedance earphones with suf-
tion you tune) is amplified and detected with ficient volume for personal listening; with
enough output to directly drive high -impe- additional amplification it can of course be
dance headphones. There is even an auto- used to drive a loudspeaker.
matic volume control built in, so you don't The Circuit. The heart of this simple radio
have the problem of blasting and fading as is a newly -developed integrated circuit, the
you tune signals of different strengths. ZN414, made and developed by Ferranti
That brings up the other fascinating thing Limited of Great Britain. It amplifies the RF
about this receiver-its selectivity, or ability signal, demodulates it, and provides auto-
to separate stations crowded along the dial. matic gain control (AGC). Selectivity is
With a high -Q ferrite antenna we could pick the result of the input circuit -a
high -Q
up eight separate stations in downtown NYC (200 or more) ferrite antenna and tuning
-a real feat for a TRF! A quick glance at capacitor that work into the high input
impedance of the IC.
White's Radio Log shows no less than seven
Increasing the appearance of basic perfboard construction is simple with one of the good
looking cases available to hobbyists. A well stocked workshop (left) can make a neat job
easy as you attach the Miller coil holder. And dabs of adhesive hold perf -to- fiberboard.
26 ELECTRONICS HOBBYIST
uuuunnmiumiuuunnnuunnmmnnnnnuunnnnuuwmnnnnuuuuurnuuunuuuunnninnnnnnunnnnnnnunuuuunnuuuunuunuunnnuuunuum1111111 .........
C5
CI
R/S 277-1008
C2..,_.01µF 100 K
Construction. Try to follow the parts lay- would include, in addition to the broadcast
out as shown. Long connections may cause band, the weather band, the marine band,
feedback whistles and poor reception. Of spe- and the end of the 49 meter short -wave
cial note, C4 must be soldered as close as band. I was able to receive, using just a
possible to the integrated circuit. Sensitivity ferrite antenna, a German and a Canadian
with the ferrite antenna should be sufficient station in the 49 meter band, and I could
for most broadcast band stations. If you do hear the marine operator around 2.5 MHz.
want to pull in the weak ones, attach a cou- The Editor's Modification. The original
ple of feet of free -hanging wire to point A circuit board for the super- transistor radio
shown on the schematic. The radio will op- was heywired on a perfboard with all con-
erate with proper selection of a smaller tun- nections made there. Phone jack, tuning ca-
ing capacitor (C2) at frequencies between pacitor, antenna coil -every part was
approximately 200 kHz and 4 MHz! This mounted on the board without regard for
27
SPRING -SUMMER, 1974
TERRIFIC TRF -IC
appearance. However, there comes a time
when every project must be mounted in a
box so that it can be used and be durable.
The super-transistor radio board is suit-
able for mounting inside an aluminum case.
However, the antenna coil must be mounted
on the outside of the case. The phone jack
was mounted so that the phone plug could
be inserted without any problem. The tun-
ing capacitor was also mounted on the
front panel for the purpose of having its
dial accessible for tuning. The antenna coil Just a single 1'2 volt cellpowers this set
(ferrite core) was mounted on the outside for at least 90 days -even if you operate
of the box simply because the box itself for 24 hours a day! What would a D cell do?
would shield the antenna from electromag-
netic radiation. So, the easiest way for the plates of the capacitor. Therefore,
me to proceed was just to remove these parts mounting this tuning capacitor directly to
from the perfboard and mount them on the the front panel would short out a part of the
front and back panels as the photos indi- circuit and make the receiver totally inoper-
cate. Leads were then connected to the perf- ative. To avert this problem, two washers
board, and the perfboard in turn was ce- were cut from this magazine's cover. The
mented to the bottom of the box. Since the holes were punched out with a paper punch.
bottom of the box is metallic, with metal A piece of spaghetti tubing was cut about
screws jutting up because of the rubber feet 146-in. long to make a large "rubber band"
mounting, a 1/4 -in. masonite board was cut spacer that would fit over the shaft threads.
and inserted into the box so that the leads This insures that the side of the shaft and
on the bottom of the perfboard would not the capacitor mounting threads would not
touch the metal case. touch the hole in the box. The two washers
There was one particularly important went on either side of the surface of the
mounting problem. The tuning capacitor is box so that the capacitor nut and rear
isolated from ground as the schematic dia- mounting would not touch. Sound difficult?
gram indicates. However, the mounting shaft It's not, because it only took about five min-
of the tuning capacitor connects to one of utes to do.
,uunimiwiununnnimimimmumimmnwuwiwm1umuunumuuim1unwummuwuiuiwuwmimmnmiiuiwi1wm1uuuniwimimm11mminniwnn1uwn
2000n
MAGNETIC
Cl HEADPHONES
PARTS LIST FOR HEAD -AMP
luF B1- Battery, 12 volts (two Eveready 5105 in
R2 series or equiv.)
100K
C1 -0.1 uF capacitor, 15 VDC or better
RI
INPUT
500K C2 -1 capacitor, 15 VDC or better
uF
It takes two to stereo, and four to R2- 100,000 -ohm, 1/2-watt resistor
quadeo. Construction is easy, just R3 -1 megohm potentiometer, any taper, no
use one battery and combine all switch required.
ground connections in one chassis. ,11111111111111111111n11n11n1111111111n11nnuninn11n111nnomnifi nIn1111111n1unnnnl1n11 inn
31
SPRING - SUMMER, 1974
Use it all as you get ready for a new career:
$1,500.0o WORTH of
TWO-WAY RADIO ELECTRONIC
COMMUNICATIONS EQUIPMENT
Deviation Meter . .
33
SPRING -SUMMER, 1974
ntiqîin an Old Tie in
by Art
Many antique radio collectors have one or pins in the base.
more early battery radios in their collec- How To Do It. Buy a 12" length of Crown
tions which have bayonet shell -type sockets Line PCV -1120 1" white plastic pipe at a
made for O1A type tubes. The OlA tubes plumbing supply house, or buy any other
require 5 volts on the filament and draw a plastic pipe having an inside diameter the
hefty .25 amps each. Since these tubes were same (or slightly larger) than the diameter
out of production many years ago and are of the 30 tube base. Be sure the outside
becoming hard to find, it is desirable to use diameter is the same (or slightly smaller)
more modern tubes having lower filament than the opening in the O1A bayonet tube
voltages and less "A" battery drain. One socket.
such tube is the type 30 tube, which re- Saw off a 1" piece from the plastic pipe,
quires only 2 volts on the filament at only then file the tough sawed edges smooth
.060 amps! and glue the 1" piece on the base of the 30
Type 30 tubes have the same four pin tube. If the plastic fits a little too loose on
arrangement as the old O1A tubes. How- the tube base simply wrap a turn or two of
ever, the 30's base is smaller in diameter Mystik cloth tape around the tube base be-
than the O1A's base and it also does not fore you apply the glue. Let the glue harden.
have the metal pin for use in bayonet sock- If the modified 30 base now fits a little
ets. The 30 tubes were made for use in too loose in the OlA bayonet socket wrap
"push -in" type sockets. a turn or two of the cloth tape around the
To use a 30 in an 01A bayonet socket it base.
isn't necessary to make an adapter or to To complete the job fasten a small metal
"re- tube" an OlA base with a 30 glass en- pin in the base. To do this drill an undersize
velope. All you have to do is build up the hole through the plastic and into the tube
diameter of the 30 base so that it fits the base and then twist in a machine screw
bayonet socket and then put small metal (Continued on page 109)
EACH OF US today uses a surprising num- The little testers you find on the counter
ber of batteries in daily living-more of at an electronics parts store do this in a lim-
them than we realize until we sit down to ited fashion. It's easy enough to build a sim-
count all the battery- operated devices we ilar tester to check just one or two types of
have in home and shop. But how many of batteries this way for yourself. But with so
us have a good way to test all the various many different types of batteries in com-
sizes and kinds of batteries we use, to learn mon use today, these simple testers still
when each should be replaced (or in some don't do the complete- job. What you need
cases, recharged)? is a battery tester with a built-in load which
Mostly, we must rely on the old method can be adjusted to suit any common type of
of using a battery until it seems to be get- battery which you are likely to have. The
ting weak, and then replace it. If we want to better battery tester illustrated here does
be cautious, we may replace it sooner than just that, and yet is not much more complex
necessary "just to be sure," and never really than a simple tester which may work with,
know if the old battery was really worn out. only a few selected types of batteries.
Sometimes we may keep a couple extra Using commonly -available components
batteries on hand for the most important and inexpensive, yet suitably accurate me-
devices in the household. These may go ters, this battery tester enables you to test
dead on the shelf before we get around to just about any household or workshop bat-
using them. So, the next time, we put off tery you're likely to encounter, from the lit-
buying a replacement until we need one and tle button cells used in hearing aids and pho-
then find the store is out of the size we need. tographic exposure meters, up through
Any way you look at it, we wind up with a medium -voltage radio "B" batteries.
feeling that "there must be a better way." A Terminal Voltage? This tester has both
Naturally, There Is. It's through use of a a voltmeter and a milliameter, -and so it en-
battery tester that will check all the many ables you to check the battery voltage while
types of batteries we have in the house. And at the same time observing the amount of
to do the job right, it must do more than current being drawn from the battery. By
just measure the voltage -it must also put adjusting the tester so it draws the amount
the correct load on the battery while mea- of current for which the battery is rated by
suring the voltage. the manufacturer, you can quickly see if its
35
SPRING -SUMMER, 1974
using this tester, the powe.r rating of the
Battery Texter portion of the rheostat which is being used
is reduced accordingly.
You certainly won't be sucking 50 watts
terminal voltage drops significantly under of power out of the batteries you test, but
this load. you need rheostats heavy enough to safely
Three rheostats, of different resistance val- dissipate lesser amounts of power when set
ues, are used in the tester to give you con- for less than their full resistance.
tinuously- variable control of the load placed In using the tester, you'll adjust a rheo-
on the battery. This is the key to use of this stat used as a load on the battery being
better battery tester -itgives you the abil- tested until the milliameter shows you this
ity to easily impose the proper load on the load is drawing from the battery the amount
battery so you can observe the effect this of current for which it is rated. To deter-
load has on the battery's terminal voltage. mine this "load current," refer to the ac-
Each of the tester's two meters has three companying battery table, which covers
ranges, selected with a rotary switch just many of the commonly-used batteries
below the meter. Voltage ranges are 0 -3, you're likely to encounter, or refer to a bat-
0 -30, and 0 -60 volts. Current ranges are 0 -5, tery manual from the manufacturer of the
0 -50, and 0 -500 mA. batteries you use.
Three rheostats give you a selection of For example, the normal full rated load
load resistance from zero to 20,000 -ohms. current for a 1.5 -volt size "D" flashlight cell
Only one rheostat is used at a time, with is shown as 150 milliamperes. To test such
S1 used to select the rheostat in use. By cov- a cell on this better battery tester, follow
ering the load resistance range with three this procedure.
rheostats whose resistance values overlap, 1. Plug a pair of test prods into the two
this tester allows you to select a medium or banana jacks at the lower left corner of
low resistance setting with greater precision the tester. Set the voltmeter range switch
than if a single rheostat were used for the to "lx" (for the 0.3 volt range) and the
load. milliameter range switch to "100x" (for the
Overrated Rheostats. When you look at 0 -500 mA. range).
the parts list, you may be surprised at the 2. Set the load range switch to "low."
power ratings of these rheostats -they This will select load resistor R3.
range from 121/2 watts up to 50 watts. Why 3. Touch the positive test prod to the
such a high power dissipation rating for the positive battery terminal and the negative
load resistors to be used on household bat- test prod to the negative battery terminal.
teries, which don't produce nearly that Turn the "low" rheostat control (R3) until
much power? the milliameter shows you are drawing 150
These high power ratings are needed to milliamperes from the battery, and as you
give you the flexibility to test a wide range do this, also watch the voltmeter. If it con-
of batteries. The power rating on a rheostat tinues to indicate nearly 1.5 volts as the
applies only to the full resistance of the current flow is adjusted upwards until it
rheostat. When you turn the slider to a reaches 150 milliamperes, the cell is in good
lower resistance point, as you will do when condition, since you can see it is supplying
Si, S2, S3 are SP3T, Centralab 1461 R4 332011
E-0 -3 volt DC meter, edge reading or
60VDC round (Allied 701 -5102 or equiv.)
20,000!2 350n Son R5 158011 1-0 -5 mA DC meter, edge reading or
RI R2 R3 e-Wsr-e round (Allied 701 -5302 or equiv.)
30 VDC S2 R1-20,000 -ohm, 50 -watt rheostat
(Ohmite 4211 or equiv.)
HI MED LOW 3 VDC R2-350 -ohm, 25 -watt rheostat
(Ohmite 0155 or equiv.)
R3 -50 -ohm, 121/2 -watt rheostat
SI (Ohmite 0110 or equiv.)
0.3 VDC R4 -3320 -ohm, 1/2-watt resistor (IRC
1.311 l§11 I+ _ type CEC -T -O or equiv.)
R6 R7 R5- 1580 -ohm, 1/2 -watt resistor (IRC
50MA 5MA type CEC -T -O or equiv.)
5 MA R6 -1.3 -ohm, 1/2 -watt resistor ( Ohmite
500MA
-0 +
PUT
S3 type RC20GF or equiv.)
R7 -15 -ohm, 1/2-watt resistor
36 ELECTRONICS HOBBYIST
BATTERY TEST REFERENCE CHART
Maximum
Current Type and Application
(mA) Manufacturer Type Number -
1.5 Volts
6 Volts
250 VSO40C F4M 509 941 Lantern service spring terminals
25 VS068 Z4 724 A2 2 Portable "A"
500 VS317 TW1 731 918 918 Lantern service binding posts
7.5 Volts
70 VS065 C5 717 9 9 Portable radio "A"
50 VS129 B5 713 8 8 Portable radio "A"
80 VS315 D5 707 26 26 Portable radio "A"
9 Volts
22.5 Volts
2.5 VS084 U15 412 215 215 Photoflash BC units, transistorservice
30 Volts
2.5 VS085 U20 413 A210 210 Transistor radios
45 Volts
40 VS014 A30 W359 206 206 Portable radio "B"
25 VS015 Z30 738 205 205 Portable radio "B"
- 4 VS086 1130 415 213 213 Portable radio "B"
50 VS112 5308 762S 709 709 Portable radio "B"
70 VS344 B30 484 207 207 Portable radio "B"
immmuuumnmmnnnwumiummllunuumuunuuuunununuuuuuuuuuuuuuumuuuauunmumuuutiwuunnnuutnnuunuuununnuuuuuuutnuunuuununuuunmuuuaummun
CAN YOU REMEMBER back to the early days Figuring on 6 dB per S-unit, that's an in-
of TV-back to the mid and late 1940's- crease of better than 3 to 6 S- units. In plain
when the Jones' who had the only TV in the terms, the SUPER DXER will bring in sta-
neighborhood would strain to clean -up a tions where all your receiver will pick up
snowy, flickering picture by adjusting a running barefoot is its own noise.
"booster" that sat on the top of their 12 -in. The SUPER DXER'S input is a diode pro-
phosphor cyclops? tected FET (field effect transistor) ; the
Well, more often than not, those outboard protection diodes are built into the FET so
boxes, with their 6J6's in push -pull tuneable that excessively strong input signals, and
circuits, didn't amount to the proverbial even static discharges, will not destroy Q1.
hill-of- beans! Those World War II vintage Since the FET input impedance is many
tubes were not well suited to the new- thousands of megohms, there is virtually no
fangled wide -band requirements of TV. But loading of the LI /C1 tuning circuit; its "Q"
later on as the technology advanced, and remains high and provides a very high de-
more powerful transmitters were built, good, gree of image -signal attenuation.
solid pictures became the rule.
Unlike old TV boosters, today a good
booster for short wave receivers, a prese-
lector, can be designed with all the advant-
ages of the latest solid-state devices-and,
to boot, can be simple and very easy to
build. It's the easiest way to turn any re-
ceiver into an even hotter signal sniffer. You
use a booster (a very high gain RF ampli-
fier) between the antenna and the receiver
antenna terminals. A good one will also
provide sharp image rejection by adding a
relatively hi -Q circuit to the receiver input.
Image signals (that often take the pleasure
out of receivers with low frequency single -
conversion IF amplifiers by jamming de- Add an extra 20+ dB gain to your shortwave
- sired signals) vanish as if by magic when receiver. Simple kit -of-parts is available.
You supply just the outer case and a knob.
passed through a hi -Q booster or preselec- Note: Wrap J1 ground wire as shown above.
tor. In short, a top quality super booster
such as the SUPER DXER, will add an- The SUPER DXER output circuit is a low
other dimension of performance to any impedance emitter follower, and it will
shortwave receiver. match, with a reasonable degree of per-
What It Can Do. The SUPER DXER pro- formance, just about any receiver input im-
vides from. 20 to 40 dB of signal boost-the pedance. As long as your receiver has two
exact amount is determined by the particu- antenna terminals, one "hot" and one
lar input characteristics of your receiver. ground, you can use the SUPER DXER.
SPRING -SUMMER, 1974 39
..mnn.
BI .-
+
SOURCE
01
DRAIN
01 4,7K 9V -_r_
OX'ER ql
40822
d 2N3394 1_
L`1 C4
.001
- GATE 2 GATE 1
Q2
9 EMITTER BASE
II
II Cl
II 365pF
I¡ C3 R1 R3 COLLECTOR
BPI
4,7K 4.7K
ii RED
DOT
TO
THRU SI
BI(+)
{
O E.
1 C2 G2 I \
C3 RII1
CII4 Ì 02
TO JI
I
CENTER 1
TERMINAL
TO BIC-)
TO JI
OUTER
TERMINAL
LI 4/
LI-2/_.- TO BPI
L1-3
L1-1
O E.
For exact part placement on PC board, see diagram above. View is from component
(top) side of your Super DXer board. Layout below shows a completed Super DXer.
Pins 3 and 4 of the dual winding coil L1 are shown in an end view for clarity.
02 R2 01
2
LI CI
,iOiiii lllllll 1111111111111111111111111111111111 lllllll lllllll 1111111111111 lllllll 1111111w1111111111wuuuuuuuuuuuuumuuuuuuuuuuuuuunuuunumuuuuuuumununuunuuuuuum1f.
1
container to agitate the etchant. After 15 or drill the corner mounting holes for a #6
twenty minutes check the PC board to see if screw, and use a bhe -in. bit for the Cl
all the undesired copper has been re- mounting hole.
moved. When every trace of the undesired Install tuning capacitor Cl first. Tuning
copper is gone, rinse the board under run- capacitor Cl should be the type provided
ning water, and then remove the resist with in the kit of parts. It has a plastic dust
steel wool or a resist "stripper." cover and a long shaft. Do not use the type
Continue. Drill out all the mounting supplied with a short shaft to which a tuning
holes marked by an indent with a No. 57, dial for the broadcast band can be at-
58 or 59 bit-this includes the corner tached. Remove the mounting nut and
mounting and Cl mounting holes. Then ground washer from Cl's shaft. Then make
SPRING -SUMMER, 1974 41
the antenna, output and output ground, and
+ 9V foils. Solder the negative (usually
SUPER DX'ER black) wire from the battery connector to
the ground foil.
The SUPER D)(ER is mounted in a stand-
certain the shaft's retaining nut is tight. It ard plastic or Bakelite case approximately
is usually supplied loose. Discard the ground 63/g -in. x 33/íg -in. x 1% -in. The front panel
washer and secure C1 to the PC board with must be aluminum. If the cabinet is not
the mounting nut. Then install tuning coil supplied with an aluminum panel, obtain
Ll. Make note of two things about L1. an optional or accessory metal panel. Do
The terminal end of Ll has a large red dot not use a plastic panel.
(ignore any other marks). Ll must be po- Drill a 3/4 -in. hole in the center of the
sitioned so the red dot faces the bottom front panel. Position the PC assembly over
edge of the PC board -the edge closest to the hole with Cl's shaft fully inserted
the coil. Also note that the lug connected through the hole, and mark the locations
to the top of the fine -wire primary is ad- for the four PC board mounting screws.
jacent to the bottom of tha.heavy-wire sec- Drill the panel and temporarily secure the
ondary. When the red dot is facing the edge PC board to the panel. Then locate the
of the PC board, both these lugs are against positions for power switch S1, antenna in-
the board. Solder the lugs to the matching put binding post BPI and output jack JI.
holes in the PC board. Use the shortest pos- Make certain J1 is as close to the PC board
sible length of wire to connect the remaining output terminals as is possible-within
primary (fine -wire) terminal to the antenna 11/2-in.
input printed foil. Connect the remaining Remove the PC board and drill the holes
Ll terminal (heavy wire) to its matching for the panel components. Power switch S1
hole with solid, insulated wire -form a can be any inexpensive SPST type such as
right angle bend in the wire so it doesn't a slide switch.. Install the panel compon-
touch L1. Now mount the remaining com- ents and then the PC board. To prevent the
ponents. copper foil on the underside of the PC
Orienting Q. Note that Q1 is positioned board from shorting to the panel place a
properly when the small tab on the case 3/4 -in. plastic or metal spacer, or a stack of
faces the nearest edge of the PC board. washers, between the PC böard and the
Also note that the round edge of Q2 faces panel at each mounting screw. Connect the
the nearest edge of the PC board. The flat panel components to the appropriate wires
edge of Q2's case should face Cl. extending from the PC board and the
Because the printed copper foil faces the SUPER DXER is ready for alignment.
front panel when the assembly is mounted Alignment. Prepare a length of 50 or 52
in the case, and is therefore inaccessible ohm coaxial cable (such as RG -58) that
for soldering, the connecting wires to front will reach from the SUPER DXER's output
panel components should be installed at this jack to the receiver antenna input terminals.
time. Solder 6 -in. solid, insulated wires to (Continued on page 109)
The basic scrambler circuit (available in kit will occur and produce a low-level carrier
form, see parts list) can be simply modified tone at the input and output of the balanced
for radio by removing two fixed resistors modulator. This tells you your scramble
and replacing them with á dual-potentiom- phone is working.
eter. A telephone carbon mike and ear piece
Wait a minute! Before your soldering iron are connected to the low impedance wind-
overheats, let me say that this scrambler will ing of Ti, with a three volt battery supply-
decode information that is encoded in the ing the necessary mike current. When the
single inversion mode only. The highly so- mike is spoken into, the carrier voltage is
phisticated scramblers that are sometimes allowed to pass, in part, through transform-
SPRING -SUMMER, 1974 43
_nununuuuuuuumnuunnnuuuuunuvuuuuununuuuununuuuwuumuuuuuuunumnnnnununuunnuuvuunwuvuuuuunuuununumnmuuuunuuuununuuuuuunnuuw
PHONE
LINE 2µF
I
SCRAMBLE PHONE S1A R9 C6
1.2K
13
-wvwm 812
_ ±I¡C347µF 812
.----.= R7 1K
2N2924
Ql,
T2
1
1,2K
R2 R3 b C5
7 2.2K 1K 4.7µF C C
3
ICI 6 ZS Q SZ +
=- BI9VDC
4 C2 D1 D D3CD4
Rl .01jaF
1K Q2
-Cl R5 R6
2N3638 c
^.011LF 47K 4.7 K
C4
- R4
1K I+ 47µF
T1
I
T-
SIC
82
-- R8
3VDC
b
EAR
PIECE
411
1K S1
S113 M IKE
ers T2 and T3, and on to the telephone Listening In. If the scramble phone is to
network. The only purpose of T3 is to be used for only receiver speech decoding,
match the impedance offered by most tele- then only one unit is required. The opera-
phone lines. tion is much the same as for telephone
Trim potentiometer R4 is used to make encoder /decoder purposes, with the excep-
a fine frequency adjustment of the oscil- tion that it is used only as a decoder. The
lator so that two scrambler units may be carrier oscillator is made variable so the de-
synchronized to the same carrier frequency. coder may be synchronized to the same car-
Both oscillators must be operating at the rier frequency as is used in the encoder. The
same frequency to produce the best decoded output of the receiver is connected to the
speech quality. This control is referred to as 8 -ohm winding of T2 (T3 is not required
the speech clarity control. for this use) and the decoded information
The best overall carrier frequency range is developed across the 8 -ohm winding of
to use for speech scrambling is between 2 Ti. A small speaker may be connected
kHz and 3.5 kHz. across this winding, or a low impedance ear -
44 ELECTRONICS HOBBYIST
1 1 1 1 1 1 11111111111111111111111111111111111
I I III I III I I II II I I II I
TO PHONE
TO PHONE LINE THRU
LINE S1A
GR
RED
GR RED ICI RV
T3 TO R4
GR
(EITHER
I
T2
/ 8 ' \ END)
BL
TO R4
WH GR WIPER
(CENTER
TERMINAL"` ''
CI
R6
C2d<
GROUND
-R8_ TO
Bl(+)\;,
+ 9vDC
C4
C3
R5 RI ICI R2 T3
e I111I11111111I I111I I N I11111
i111111I I11I11111111I I I I111I111I111I1111111111111111I II I111111111111I111I II II I1111111II II II I I II I I II I I I I111I I I11111I 1 i I I111I11111I1111111I I1111111I111I I1111I I I I11111I1111111111I I II II II I1111111I I I I111111111111111I I I I I I I
SPRING-SUMMER, 1974 45
phone will do for monitoring the decoded
speech. No mike or 3 -volt battery is neces-
SCRAMBLE PHONE sary for decoding operations.
Putting It Together. The circuit layout
isn't critical and any suitable scheme can be
MODIFICATION I. followed, but the layout shown for the PC
board would be a good one to use. No mat-
NIEN ter what construction plan is used, PC board
EARPHONE MIN
or bread board, extra care should be taken
when connecting the IC, diodes, and tran-
sistors to the circuit. Care should also be
taken when connecting the three transform-
T2 ers, so that the low and high impedance
windings are not reversed.
The size of the PC board allows the
' HOOK SWITCH
REMOVE T3, ADD EARPHONE PC BOARD TO PHONE
LINE
MODIFICATION 2.
ot C2
CI
The Scramble Phone's PC board is shown in exact size. Transfer its image to copper -
clad board using a piece of unused carbon paper. The copper -clad board is the bottom
surface of the printed circuit board. Parts are mounted thru holes from above.
11111111111n11111111 mim 11111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111minu1111111111u ul ummuluuummuuun 11111111111111111111111111111111III1111111111111111111111111111111111111111
metal or plastic plate. The clarity poten- 48 volts is measured. This test must be per-
tiometer can be mounted at any convenient formed with the telephone on hook. The
location on the phone's base plate, but be second important check to make before con-
very careful not to let any component inter- necting the scrambler phone determines the
fere with the mechanical operation of the line current. This test is made as follows.
hook switch. Set the VOM to measure DC current on the
Scrambling A Phone. Connect the two 50 or 100mA range, and place the meter
scramble phones together (phone line out- in series with a lead from the high (1.2 K)
puts connected to each other) but separated impedance winding of T3. Pick up the
by at least twenty feet. Lift either of the phone. If the circuit current is greater than
hand sets and you should hear a low level 25mA, then the resistor/ capacitor network
tone; talk into the mike and you should hear C6 and R9 must be added in series with the
your own unscrambled voice in the ear scrambler phone and the telephone circuit.
piece. This reception of your own voice is This should reduce the circuit current to a
normal and occurs when using a standard value close to 25mA, but if not, adjust the
telephone; it is called the sidetone. value of R9 (start with a 1000 -ohm, /-
Have a friend or another member of your watt resistor) until this current value is
family talk over the scramble phone. If your reached.
reception isn't clear or sounds like Donald Security Link -Up. After connecting one
Duck, adjust the clarity control for the best of the scrambler phones at your location
voice quality. This simply puts the two oscil- and another at the home of a friend, dial his
lators on the same frequency. number with your standard telephone. When
Scrambler Hook -Up. This job is a simple the party answers and agrees to go to the
one. All that's required is to parallel the scrambler mode, pick up yotir scramble
output of transformer T3 with the telephone phone, and have your friend do the same.
lines. But before doing so, make the follow- You can now continue your conversation in
ing tests. If you are in doubt about which complete secrecy. If either of the scrambler
two wires on the telephone terminal block oscillators should drift in frequency, just
are the telephone circuit, take a DC volt set the clarity pot for the best possible voice
meter and check between pairs until 24 to quality.
SPRING -SUMMER, 1974 47
BUDGET SCIENCE FAIR PROJECT nnnnnnnnununununnunuuuunlnuunnnnl
COMPASS GALVANOMETER
Iilllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllll by T. A. BLANCHARD IIIIIIIIIIIIIII1111111111IIIIIIIIIlI1111111
HANGING COIL
methods. The compass galvanometer (made WIRE FIXED CORE
from the illustration at right) can be used Easy to build, the com-
with a Wheatstone bridge to indicate null pass galvanometer
points. (above) can be assem-
The d'Arsonval instrument suspends a bled in an hour at prac-
small coil between the pole faces of a per- tically no cost. At right is
manent horseshoe magnet. When a current hanging coil galvanom- POLE FACE OF
eter used in labs. HORSESHOE
flows through the coil it becomes an electro- MAGNET (1 OFa
magnet and its like poles repel the like poles
of the horseshoe magnet, thus causing the of #28 magnet wire around the cardboard.
coil to turn on the connecting wire. The Heavier wire and fewer turns will work, too,
strength of the current through the coil de- with a slight drop-off in sensitivity.
termines the extent of the coil's rotation. Scotch tape is wound around the finished
A small pointer attached to the moving coil to keep the wire turns in place. Con-
coil registers on a curved dial, or a tiny nect the ends of the coil to screw terminals
mirror is attached to the galvanometer string. or clips. Slip the compass under the coil in
A beam of light is aimed at the mirror, a position where its needle comes under the
bouncing the beam off to a wall screen or coil and parallel to the coil turns.
chart to give great magnification of tiny Connect the galvanometer in series with a
current changes in a darkened room. flashlight battery and bulb, a buzzer or a toy
Making A Simple Galvanometer. A motor, etc. When the circuit is closed, the
small amount of insulated magnet wire, any compass needle will be drawn so that it is
Boy Scout pocket compass and a 21/4 x 31/2 - at right angles to the coil. A slow swing of
in. scrap of plywood is what you need to the needle indicates the circuit is drawing
make the compass galvanometer. Cut a strip little current. A rapid swing denotes an in-
of cardboard 3/a -in. wide and 33 -in. long. crease in current flow.
Score the cardboard U in. from each end, To show how sensitive this simple gal-
with a dull knife blade and crease so the vanometer is, connect what appears to be a
cardboard form resembles a C or bridge dead flashlight cell across the terminals, im-
shape. Now glue the cardboard to the edges mediately breaking the circuit. The com-
of the wood base. Do not use tacks! pass needle will spin at a merry clip, indi-
Bind the cardboard with a rubber band cating there is still some life in the "dead"
until glue or cement dries. Wind 25 turns cell.
48 ELECTRONICS HOBBYIST
Send for Your new FREE Heathkit catalog
Whatever your interest, you're sure to find a kitbuildlrg
project just for you in the new '74 Heathkit Catalog.
You'll find color TVs, stereo and 4- channel equip-
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959.95
Electron,:
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Battery- Powered
Pocket Calculator
4-Channel $69.95
AM-FM Receiver
$249.95' Audio Oscilloscope
5199,95
Deluxe Garage
Door Opener 180 -Watt AM-FM
Portable Stereo Receiver
12V BM TV 5139.95'
$379.95
i129.95
See them all at your Heathkit Electronic Center - or send for FREE '74 Heathkit Catalog
HEATHKIT ELECTRONIC CENTERS Heath Company, Dept. 26-1
Units of Schlumberger Products Corporation
Benton Harbor, Michigan 49022
ARIZ.: Phoenix: CALIF.: Anaheim, El Cerrito, Los An-
geles, Pomona, Redwood City. San Diego (La Mesa),
Woodland Hills; COLO.: Denver; CONN.: Hartford Please send my FREE 1974 Heathkit Catalog.
(Avon); FLA.: Miami (Hialeah), Tampa; GA.: Atlanta
ILL.: Chicago, Downers Grove; IND.: Indianapolis
KANSAS: Kansas City (Mission); KY.: Louisville: LA. Name
New Orleans (Kenner): MD.: Baltimore, Rockville
MASS.: Boston (Wellesley): MICH.: Detroit; MINN.
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Philadelphia, Pittsburgh; R.I.: Providence (Warwick); Mail order prices; F.O.B. factory.
TEXAS: Dallas, Houston; WASH.: Seattle; WIS.: Mil- CL-491R
waukee. J
49
iSPRING-.SUMMER, 1974
INSTANT
PATCH
BOX
Speed up
substitutions with this builders aid
by James A. Fred
The INSTANT PATCH Box is one of the article since you should select parts to fit
little luxuries that simplifies electronic ex- your needs. Check your junk box for parts
perimenting and makes it more enjoyable. on hand, and pick up what you can't find at
Haywire lash -ups often get the job done, but your local electronics shop.
feedback, oscillation, or inaccurate meter When . . . you have built the instant
readings sometimes make the end results patch box, what can you do with it? Let us
worthless. This little blue box provides a suppose for a minute you have an experi-
shielded, no- nonsense method of substitut- mental circuit you are working on. You are
ing resistance, capacitance, or inductance trying to determine the correct size bias re-
into a circuit with a minimum of problems. sistor to use. Connect the box into the
Essentially, the INSTANT PATCH Box con- circuit with the banana jacks and alligator
sists of a small metal box with a cover in clips. You can now plug different size re-
which are mounted a SPST slide switch, two sistors into the banana jacks and short out
banana jacks, and two banana plugs. The the jacks if you wish. All this is possible
box is the smallest that will do the job without touching a soldering iron to the cir-
and keep distributed capacitance and in- cuit. Once you get into the habit of using
ductance to a minimum. The circuit is ex- this builders aid, you may wonder how you
tremely simple as you can see from the got along without it!
schematic diagram. A voltage is fed into Construction is simple. Secure the parts
one banana plug and either through the listed, make the proper size holes, and
switch or through the component plugged mount the parts. There is only one pre-
into the banana jacks. The switch allows caution to take and that is to be sure to use
conduction through the plugged -in compo- insulating washers when mounting the ba-
This almost too easy circuit gives you the
BANANA JACKS option of (1) adding an extra component to
your haywire circuit or (2) shorting across
the component at the flip of a switch. You
SW can vary the terminals to suit your needs.
SPS1
nana plugs. They must not short to the
I- metal box.
Incidentally, you don't have to use the
same combination of input plugs or com-
BANANA PLUGS
ponent jacks that I did. You can use 5 way
binding posts, BNC connectors, tip plugs
nent, or provides a shorted path across the and jacks, or other types of hardware. Just
banana jacks. be sure and use connectors that are com-
You will not find a parts list with this patible with your other test equipment.
50 ELECTRONICS HOBBYIST
GE -TRACE
Beginner's Project
Build this troubleshooting test unit that generates and traces signals
by Edward A. Morris, WA2VLU
Two of the most widely and easily used put of the generator is short- circuit
troubleshooting techniques popular proof and is frequency -stable when driv-
today are the signal- substitution and the ing low- impedance loads. Maximum out-
signal- tracing methods. Especially help- put is 2 volts peak -to -peak.
ful on dead sets, these methods can be The signal- tracer portion has a maxi-
used on a wide variety of communica- mum gain of about 50 dB, more than
tions, entertainment, and industrial enough for tracing through the circuit of
electronic equipment-just about every- most any device, even when dealing
thing, in fact, from the All American 5 with small signal levels. When the RF
BCB receiver to servo amplifiers! And demodulator probe (described later) is
best of all, you can put these two most connected, the unit can be used to
practical troubleshooting techniques to trace through RF and IF amplifiers.
work for you without having to invest in Audio output of Gen -Trace is about 5
a yard or two of fancy, expensive test mW, enough to drive a miniature head-
equipment. phone of the variety supplied with tran-
Gen -Trace is both a broad -band sig- sistor radios. It won't burst eardrums,
nal generator and an audio signal tracer, but it's more than adequate for most
all in one package. Output of the signal applications.
generator is a 1000 -Hz square wave. Its Gen -Trace is a self- contained, all -in-
fast rise -fall times produce harmonics one compact package. It's small enough
extending well beyond 100 MHz (most (33/4 x 3 x 21/8 -in.) to drop into your tool
garden- variety signal squirters poop out kit for field work. Simple and non -critical
after only a few MHz). The buffered out- to build, it will take about 3 hours to
SPRING -SUMMER, 1974 51
used as on /op switches. Thus the output has
GEN -TRACE two possible states, on/ oft or positive
voltage/no voltage. While this is exactly
what's needed for the square -wave generator
construct. Best of all, building it won't flat- function, it leaves a bit to be desired for
ten your wallet, since parts run to just over use in the audio amplifier section. In order
ten dollars. for the inverters to amplify audio signals
How It Works. Gen-Trace is built around without excessive distortion, suitable operat-
a single Motorola MC798P RTL (resistor ing bias has to be provided for the inverters.
transistor logic) integrated circuit (IC). It Audio input signals introduced at jack
replaces half a dozen transistors and a dozen J 1 are fed to the gain control, potentiometer
resistors, all at a cost of $1.08. That repre- R5, by capacitor C5. The audio at the wiper
sents a savings well over $3.00 at current arm of the control is then coupled to the
prices. input of the first amplifier, inverter INV6,
Signal Generator Function. Integrated by capacitor C6. Inverter INV6 is biased
circuit ICI is comprised of six inverters, for class A amplifier service by resistor R7,
each similar to an ordinary single -stage producing a voltage gain for this stage of
transistor amplifier. Two of the inverters, about 20.
INV1 and INV2, are cross -coupled by The amplifier output of INV6 is coupled
capacitors Cl and C2 to form an astable to the input of INV5, which, with R6, is
multivibrator. The output frequency of the identical to the first amplifier. Overall audio
multivibrator is established by the time con- output is fed to the headphone jack J4
stants of R1 /C1 and R2 /C2; output of the by capacitor C8.
multivibrator is a 1000-Hz square wave, Two AA cells connected in series to pro-
which is coupled to the input of inverter vide about 3 volts make up the power supply
INV3. Resistor R3 and inverter INV3 iso- for the instrument. The supply is decoupled
late the multivibrator from load variations at low and high frequencies by capacitors
at the output terminals and thus help ensure C9 and C10, respectively.
frequency stability. Mechanical Construction. Mechanical lay-
The output of this buffer inverter is out isn't critical and can be varied to fit the
coupled to potentiometer R4, the generator's particular housing used. Beginners starting
level control, by capacitor C3. The con - their first IC project, however, should not
trolled output level is then coupled to output attempt to crowd the layout into a small
jack J3 via capacitor C4. housing. More experienced experimenters
Signal Trace Function. Normally the in- can, if they wish, go whole hog. It's possible
verters making up the integrated circuit are to build the entire instrument in an alumi-
äè $` ANI
GENERATOR
OUTPUT
CONTROL R4
SIGNAL TRACER
SENSITIVITY
CONTROL RS a
J2 J1
If hassling with your electric drill doesn't catch your fancy, Sl's hole can be
omitted by mounting substitute spst switch on rear of sensitivity control R5.
52 ELECTRONICS HOBBYIST
PARTS LIST FOR GEN -TRACE
B1 2 AA size mercury or alkaline cells 99E62119 or equiv.)
(Lafayette 32 -46857 or equiv.) R1, R2 8200 -ohm, 1/2 -watt resistor
Cl, C2, C9 0.1 -uF, 75 -VDC miniature R3 1800 -ohm, 1/2 -watt resistor
ceramic capacitor (Lafayette 33E69089 R4 5000 -ohm potentiometer, linear taper
or equiv.) (Lafayette 33 -1122A or equiv.)
C3, C6, C7, C8 10 -uF, 35 -VDC miniature R5 5000 -ohm audio taper potentiometer
electrolytic capacitor (Radio Shack 272- (Lafayette 33 -11216 or equiv.)
1025 or equiv.) R6, R7 27,000 -ohm, 1/2 -watt resistor
C4, C4 5 -11F, 35 -VDC miniature electrolytic S1 Dpdt miniature toggle switch, used as
capacitor (Radio Shack 272-1024 or spst (Lafayette 99 -61624 or equiv.)
1 2 cell battery holder (Keystone 140
or
equiv.)
C10 100 -uF, 35 -VDC miniature electrolytic equiv.)
capacitor (Radio Shack 272-1028 or 1 33/4 x 3 x 21/8 -in. aluminum chassis
equiv.) (LMB 135 or equiv.)
IC1 RTL integrated circuit (Motorola MC 1 3000 -ohm impedance earphone with
789P or HEP573) 1/2-in. dia plug (Lafayette 99E25405 or
J1, J3 Red nylon tip jack (Amphenol 350- equiv.)
29200 or equiv.) Misc. Rubber feet, wire, solder, perfboard
J2 Black nylon tip jack (Amphenol 350 - (H or P pattern), knobs, push -in ter-
29200 or equiv.) minals, contact vinyl, press -on lettering
J4 Subminiature phone jack (Lafayette (Datak or equiv.), etc.
RI R2 C. +
SIBI' -L
JI
R3
8200. 8200
)1±-
C5
K
15R5 5
1800.
IO
2 0.1
Cl
+10
C J4
NOTE:
+I( 1
LC. IS VIEWED FROM
TOP OF UNIT. PINS ARE
COUNTED FROM ORIENT
C3
10
R41.
5K
)
C4
-----J3
DOT CCW AROUND CASE. 5 J2
num cigar tube by using sub- and micro- pocket knife, file, or tapered reamer.
miniature components and controls! After completing the mechanical work on
The layout presented in this description the housing, you're ready to spray -paint it
is tailored for the housing specified in the or cover it with a contact adhesive vinyl
Parts List and should provide suitable fa- material (Contac or equiv.) such as used
cilities for most applications of signal trac- on the model. Regardless of how much care
ing or as a signal source. By following the is taken during all other phases of construc-
mechanical details and dimensions shown, tion, the finished project will still look
our layout can be used with a minimum of amateurish unless the housing is properly
effort. finished and lettered.
Lay out and center punch all of the holes A little extra time spent on the appear-
to be drilled, according to the mechanical ance of the housing can work wonders. And
layout. The holes may be de- burred with a while this doesn't necessarily improve the
SPRING- SUMMER, 1974 53
the material on the sides, or they can be
GEN -TRACE removed Cvi.th a pin prick through the vinyl.
For the best adhesion press the vinyl firmly
against the case.
performance of the instrument, it makes it After the case has been spray -painted or
looks more professional. It takes it out of the vinyl- covered, transfer lettering should be
typical, run-of- the -mill, homebrew category. applied to really jazz up the appearance of
If you elect to spray -paint the housing, Gen -Trace. If you are applying the transfer
care should be taken to ensure that it's clean lettering over a painted finish, make very
and oil -free. A film of oil on the surface sure that the finish is thoroughly dry before
will prevent the paint from forming a good adding the letters. A slightly tacky painted
bond on the aluminum surface. finish will tend to grab and hold all letters
Spray on several light coats of a good on the transfer sheet. After placing the let-
quality paint. Two light coats work out ters where required, several light coats of a
much better than a single, heavy coat. clear acrylic spray should be applied to pro-
Heavy coats tend to sag and run, spoiling tect the lettering from wear and abrasion.
the final finish. Allow each coat enough Remember to spray the protective finish
time to dry thoroughly before applying the with a light touch. A heavy coat will dissolve
next, as directed on the spray can. the lettering.
A somewhat easier and faster way to Electrical Construction. With the excep-
finish the housing is to cover it with a con- tion of SI, J1, J2, J3, J4, R5, and Bl, all
tact adhesive material. This material is components are mounted on a small piece
available in a variety of solid colors and of perforated vector board. Boards with
wood tones similar to the material used on either H or P pattern are especially suited
our model. for IC projects. These hole patterns fit the
Covering the case with vinyl is very easy. IC's lead layout perfectly so that no extra
Work with each hall of the case separately. holes have to be drilled.
Cut a section of material large enough to Begin the electrical construction by wir-
ing the circuit card according
to the schematic diagram.
Detailed parts placement can
be determined from our
photos. All wiring is effected
by using small gauge- bare
copper wire, with insulated
tubing added where neces-
sary (crossovers of wiring or
other parts) to prevent shorts.
The ÌC is mounted by passing
its leads through the pattern
completely cover each half of the case. Lay of holes in the board, bending them outward
the piece you have cut with the finish side on the wiring side and cutting them off,
down on a flat surface. Remove the paper leaving about a 1/4 -in. tab for soldering cir-
backing and press the material over the cuit wiring. Connections to the IC are lap
surface of the housing. Fold material over soldered to conserve space, reduce strain on
the sides and trim off the excess with a the IC's leads, and to help prevent shorts
sharp knife or razor blade. Small air bubbles between adjacent pins.
should be rolled out before turning under Soldering connections to the IC's leads
54 ELECTRONICS HOBBYIST
should be completed as quickly as possible. output cables. Likewise, J4, the phone jack,
Use a low- wattage (under 50 watts) solder- may be changed to mate with the type of
C7 CA
C2
R7
R6
PIN I, NEXT TO
ORIENTATION DOT
Note how IC mounting tabs slip perfectly into Vector type -H pattern perfboard. You
could buy IC socket if you don't want to solder directly to IC mounting tabs as seen
here. Normal axial lead electrolytics can be substituted for printed -circuit types.
SPRING - SUMMER, 1974 55
section, check the wiring to inverters INV1,
GEN -TRACE INV2. INV3. If the trouble annears to he in
the trace portion of Gen Trace, check INV5
and INV6. A failure of both sections could
impedance headphone across the generator's indicate reversed battery polarity, or wiring
output by plugging it into J4. Turn the to pins 4 and 11 on the IC.
instrument on and advance the level control. Add an RF Probe. The signal tracer can
A clear tone in the phone will confirm be used to check through audio stages with-
proper operation of the signal generator. out any special test leads. But it cannot be
To check out the operation of the signal used to check RF, IF. and mixer stages. The
trace section, couple the output of the gen- usefulness of the signal tracer can be ex-
erator (J1) into the input of the signal tended by the addition of an RF demodu-
trace (J3). Again the tone will be heard if lator probe. The drawing for a suitable RF
all is operating properly. - probe details a circuit for one we designed
Should trouble develop in either section, to be used with Gen -Trace.
check the wiring to that section. If the In most applications, additional gain will
trouble appears to be in the signal generator (Continued on page 108)
RF DEMODULATOR PROBE
3-4 FEET SHIELDED
CABLE RG 58 /A-U
Extending usefulness
of Gen -Trace's easy
with RF demodulator
probe. Solder all
parts close to pert-
board; line interior
PROBE
\
RF INPUT
1
200pF
i
AMPLIFIER
AUDIO
OUTPUT
200
of probe with card- IN295 pF
board for short-cir-
cuit protection.
GND L _J
Carefully separate CLIP
inner conductor from SHIELDED ENCLOSURE/
cable shield; gently CIRCUIT ADDITION FOR RF.PROBE
pry inner conductor
through shield with 27K f/6 ICI
pair of tweezers. INVERTER I4
After tinning, run
1
grounded end of ca-
pacitor, diode, GND
P ROBE i TO JI
56 ELECTRONICS HOBBYIST
Build u LED
Flus fight
for
Your
Key Chain
by Thomas R. Fox
Aminiature flashlight, attached to a key light in a narrow bandwith, the LED is only a
chain, is an extremely useful device. The step away from being a LASER. Also, its
trouble is, most key chain flashlights use nearly monochromatic properties, the color
standard filament light bulbs, which are no- of the LED is quite unusual and many have a
torious current hogs and have rather short rubylike appearance. See light chart.
lifetimes. Because of its minute size, almost Many types of LED's are suitable for such
unlimited lifetime and very low current con- a miniature flashlight. Motorola's MLED600
sumption, the LED (Light Emitting Diode) is a good choice to use in a miniature flash-
is, to date, the best device to use in such a light since it provides a high light output at
flashlight. a low voltage -1.55 volts is enough to turn
The LED is a revolutionary new solid state it on.
lighting device that has no filament to heat The power supply B1, for the device is
up and burn out. Instead, it produces a `cold two 1.35 -volt mercury button cells connect-
light' like fireflies do. It is basically a for- ed in series to give a total voltage of 2.7
ward- biased diode composed of gallium ars- volts. This voltage is then dropped to 2.3
enide instead of the more usual silicon or volts by the addition of a 15 -ohm resistor.
germanium. Since it generates most of its With normal use, these mercury cells should
+m11111111111111mi11111111n1111111111111111m111111 wi mmm mm11 mwm w m111111 mwm 11mmw /11111111111111111 m 1111111111111111 wmm 11 mi mi mmmm m m1111#1 #1#1 111111111111 m m i ami nlllllllllll l
annummn 111l 11111111 lll n#1mu#111#111#1#1#1#111#111n1111w 111111111111 m1111w 111111111111111111111111#1111111111m 11111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111w 1111111111111111111111111111111111111111n1111111111111111m.-
GaAs
The visible spectrum light LASER
shows the colors we see and 9050 Ang.
80
the narrow band of light the
LED generates. F-
w z
N
ó 60- ó.
last at least a year. Assuming Ñ cr
20 seconds of use a day, the cc
cz
batteries in the LED flashlight
°w
40-
might last as long as their N z_
shelf life. x
Building lt. The case for f-
cr 20_ c
the LED flashlight can be z
made from the plastic con-
z w
J
1
ul
tainer in which a toothbrush I >
comes. Either the heavy- o
4000 5000 6000 7000 8000 90Óo+3
weight plastic container or
the flexible one can be used.
Cut this plastic container GREEN RED INFRARED
VIOLET VIOLET- YELLOW
11/4 -in from the bottom and BLUE
save the cover. You now have the case.
Follow the wiring diagram to complete If everything works okay, finish construc-
construction. Styrofoam is used as an insu- tion by drilling a small hole in the cover.
lating material and the specified piece of Put a small piece of styrofoam between the
sheet metals used as a spring shimmy to get batteries and LED. From the inside of the
a good connection between the solder lugs cover, stick the LED through the hole you
and the batteries. Since you Can't solder to drilled. Fasten the cover (it might need to
the batteries directly, pressure contact is re- be cut down to size) to the case using small
quired. sheet metal screws (or even glue, since the
Before fastening the cover, check out the batteries rarely need to be replaced) . To ap-
flashlight to see if everything is working pear professional, paint the plastic case with
properly. If the LED lights when the switch aluminum paint. For the final touch, drill
is pressed, fine; if not, reverse the batteries two small holes in the bottom of the case
or solder lugs. LED'S, unlike common in- and string a key chain through the holes.
candescent lights, are polarized. If it still Total cost of this ultra- modern miniature
doesn't work, check battery contacts, mer- flashlight can be as low as $3.50 including
cury cells, switch and LED in that order. batteries, and it weighs less than 0.5 ounce.
11111111111111111111111u11111111111111u11111111111u111111111111111111111u11u11111111111111111111111111111111
immimiimmiinumimmiuuimunnunuumiminumiunuumimumminuu
-6 lantern battery
-
B1
11
-VDC
#40 pilot (Calectro
SOI-8 -pin octal
-437 or equiv.) E2
socket
S02-7-pin socket
-9
S03 -pin socket
58 ELECTRONICS HOBBYIST
build
... the
im
1 -FET converter that puts you where the real action is
by Edward A. Morris, WA2VLU
Ililllllllll
nals. Secret is to detune
receiver slightly so incoming
signal falls on slope of radio's
selectivity curve. Signal can 0 +
then be detected and amplified. FREQUENCY
The LO signal is generated by transistor in the auto radio is going to cope with FM-
Q2 and its associated components. Most modulated stations in the emergency and
hams will recognize the circuit as that of a business bands.
Clapp oscillator, widely used as a VFO. The Slope Detection. Key to this problem is
version used here is its solid- state, crystal - a little trick called slope detection. To re-
controlled twin. ceive FM transmissions, the auto radio is
Operating bias for Q2 is provided by the tuned a bit off to one side of the desired sta-
voltage divider formed by resistors R2 and tion. This places the received signal on the
R3. The collector of Q2 is placed at RF slope of the receiver's selectivity curve.
ground by bypass capacitor C4. Frequency Frequency deviation (FM modulation) is
control is accomplished by X1, operating is then converted into a varying -amplitude sig.
60 ELECTRONICS HOBBYIST
nal, which is detected and amplified just like perience in HF /VHF layout and construc-
an ordinary AM signal! tion, you'd do well to follow the general lay-
Though this method of detecting FM sig- out used by the author just to be on the safe
nals negates some of the benefits of FM, it side.
is satisfactory for general use. It also has Construction is simple and goes easily.
the advantage that no modifications are nec- Begin by laying out the pattern of holes to
essary to the radio it is to be used with. be drilled in the case. A small T- square can
Mechanical Construction. The author come in handy here. Spot the holes with a
chose to construct his model in a small alu- centerpunch to ensure accurate placement
minum box chassis. The circuit layout isn't of the drilled holes. The rectangular cutout
critical, however, so you have considerable for switch Si is most easily made by first
freedom in picking your layout and packag- scribing the outline of the cutout onto the
ing technique. Even so, a metal enclosure box. Then drill a connecting pattern of
should be used to ensure proper shielding. 1/4s -in. holes just inside the scribed outline.
And if you've had little or no previous ex- Remove the material in the center, and fin-
, ,
, ,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,
QI-HEP 802 C5
d
lt)i0pF J2
ANT L2 REC
-CI C2
IOpF
.ÓÓ22 L3
(SEE
i E T) 4.7k C4
_ . I
0022
__ R3 r-
NOTE: HEP55
SWITCH SI(a,b,c) c
SHOWN IN THE OFF, OR
CONVERTER OUT
POSITION.
C6
= BI
9V
XI 100pF
R2 C7 R4 I.
33k T2pF 22k
.. ., , ,,, ,, ,,
SPRING -SUMMER, 1974
, wi,i,iuuuuunu uunnmununuunnunnuuuuu nuuunmm uuuuununununuunnunnununununmununununuuum uuniunununuw
61
SimCon
ish the sides of the cutout with a small file.
epoxy -glass board. Miniature push -in termi-
nals are used to mount various components,
as well as to serve as wiring terminals. Wir-
ing is point-to- point, using small gauge bare
wire, and is carried out on both sides of the
After the mechanical work has been com- board. Care should be taken to use short,
pleted, the case can be spray painted or cov- direct leads whenever possible.
ered with vinyl contact adhesive material, as The general components layout can be
was the author's model. The vinyl material determined from our photos. Though not
looks great and is easier to apply than spray exactly wide open, the layout shown allows
paint. A wide variety of wood grain and even the beginner enough room to work.
solid tone patterns are available. Transistors Q1 and Q2 are soldered di-
In either event, the case should be thor- rectly into the circuit. No special precau-
oughly cleaned before it's covered or tions are necessary: just a bit of solid- state-
painted. Hot water and soap will do a good oriented common sense. Use a small (under
job. Rinse well, then dry thoroughly. 50 watt), well- tinned iron, and complete
the job quickly. Beginners
should perhaps use a heat
sink on each lead while
soldering.
Coil L2 can be store -bought
or home brew, depending on
how ambitious you feel. If
you opt for the home-brew
version, wind 71 turns of
#26 plain enameled wire,
close wound, over a VI-in.
dia. ferrite slug tuned form.
1/2 X1/4 IN. Position the coil on the form
so that the ferrite slug can be
Chassis for SimCon is cinch to prepare. adjusted from fully in, to fully out of the
Hole at far end is for switch Sl; two coil. Coil L1 consists of 3 turns of #26 plain
holes at near end are for jacks Ji and J2. enameled wire close wound over the cold
To cover the case with vinyl, first remove
(ground) end of coil L2.
Selecting Frequencies. Both the value of
the paper backing from the vinyl material. capacitor Cl and the frequency of the crys-
Place the material adhesive side up on a flat tal will depend on what frequency(s) you
surface, then place the case on the material. want the converter to cover. Refer to the
Alternately press each side of the case onto table at right to calculate the crystal fre-
the material, and trim excess material with
quency; the table above specifies the value of
razor blade or pocket knife. Remove en-
trapped air bubbles by working them out to '2111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111 11111111111 t.
I
62 ELECTRONICS HOBBYIST
:,unuuuuuunnnnnnunmuunnuwnntu_ ummnummummnununuumc
CI over the operating range of the con-
, ,
Operation and Use. Best results will be Auxiliary Power Supply. Though the self -
obtained if the auto antenna is extended to contained battery supply will be adequate
its maximum length. The auto radio's push-
button selector can be taken advantage of
and pre -set to frequencies of most interest.
for most uses, there are those-like the vol-
unteer fireman or Civil Defense worker
who may want a more dependable source of
-
This is most handy when you want to switch power. Batteries have a habit of giving out
frequencies rapidly. when they are needed most. For these rea-
In some locations, where the converter is sons we have included a Zener- regulated
used to receive only one frequency and a power supply (see page 60) which operates
strong local broadcast station lies close to directly from the vehicle's 12 -VDC electrical
the converter's output frequency, the broad- system. Note that the supply cannot be used
cast station may ride through and interfere with positive- ground electrical systems; this
with the desired station. The interference requires reversing the polarity of both Dl
can be reduced by connecting a trap be- and Cl.
64 ELECTRONICS HOBBYIST
RuIomctlic Ilectdlighter
Don't end your trip in a fall!
right ray be dark and cismal when you pull i-r ¡cur driieway, but
THE
thanks to your Automatic Herdlighter you II have no troup e seeing
t?-e way to ycur dc.crstep. This automatic headlight -inner is a two- Ira-t-
sistor circuit teat beeps your headligh:s illuminated 1pr 60 seconds after
you eave iou- car. A simple ten -dol ar project (al new parts), it's con -
recteI n pa-a lel with your existing autc headlight switch and is op-
erated by a siirle pushbutton. The hirer has been field-tested fcr Dyer
a year and has been proven extremely reliable. It is for installaticn in a
12 -Volt negative ground elecir ca system, bu- install ng the i nit n posi-
t we ground systems is a snap for hobtyists.
THE -10W 0= I -. When the driver depresses pustutton switch SE,
t mirg capacity C. charges to 12 volts and tuns 01 trarsiEto- Q1, wnich
Jrives power transistor Q2 into condiction. Tu s, n tarn, ersrgizñs the
-day which has its contacts :onnecied in parallel with the 'neadlìght
switch. The relay w Il stay energized until Cl discharges to the 91 turn-off
erel The ligh-s -on period is dete-mined by the value of Cl, P.1, aid tf the
ctaracteristi of :ransistor Q1. With values shown or the schematic,
about 60 ghts on seconds ae p- ovided.
I
W-1A- TO DO Construct the timer in a sma;l 31/i -in. x 2"s -ia. x LSr -in.
mini -box whew all components e<cep: the relay and pushau -ton switch
S. 're mcunted on a 17/a -in. = 13/e -in_ printed circuit card. The :ircuit
card may be made by any of -re conventional methods.
Special attention must be given in mounting some of the c:mponents
or the p-intec c -cuit card. Capacitor Cl must be mpurrted with its + ter
n nai ccnrected tc R1. Also, special attentior must be given :o spacing
the transistors at least /e -in. away from the zircu t cans to avpid over-
1
heating du -ing soldering. Two insulated washers are used to m :unit pcwer
AUTOMATIC
HEADLIGHTER
transistor Q2 to the printed circuit board.
Interconnecting wires from the circuit
board should each be at least 4 -in. long.
They can he cut to proper length just before
wiring in the mini -box. Mount "RYI and SI
in the mini -box, with heavy gauge ( #14)
wires soldered to the relay terminals as
shown on the schematic. Make these wires
about 24 -in. long and mark "+" and
"Lights" for easy identification during in-
stallation. The last step is to mount and
connect the printed circuit card in the mini - With the relay mounted on left, PC board at
box. right, all parts fit conveniently into the
Under the Dash. The protruding mount- 3'/4 -in. x 2'/a -in. x 15ñ -in. minibox case.
ing screw of RY may be used to mount 1
the timer under your dash, or make a brack- convenient point (probably a wire right on
et of your own design for your particular the switch) to tap into the 12 -Volt battery
automobile and installation. Just make sure power. You can locate these two wires by
the timer chassis is well grounded to the checking for voltages with a VOM at the
dashboard frame before proceeding. headlight switch. A + 12 -Volt battery wire
At the headlight switch, find the wire will be the only wire that will read +12
coming from the headlamps and select a volts with the headlight switch in the off
1 1 1 11 1 1 11 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 11 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 111 1 1 1 11 1 1 11 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 11 1 1 11 1 1 1 1 11 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 11 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 11 1 1 11 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 11 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 11 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 111 1 1 11 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 11 1 1 1 1 1 11 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 11 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 11 1 1 1 1 1 1 11 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 11 1 1 1/ 1 1 1 1 1 1 11 1 1 11 1 1 1 1 :
1 -AMP
R2 SLOW
560!1 BLOW
FROM BATTERY
RI 01 +12V DC
3.3K 2N1302
#14 WIRE
TO
-CI500uF R3
56011
41. HEADLIGHT
WIRE
66 ELECTRONICS HOBBYIST
Actual size copper (bottom) side of your board on left and component (top) side on right.
I I11I1111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111Ìc
CLOCK
MECHANISM Here's a great way to salvage
a good clock that caught radio
failure! The Rx includes
either a new transistor radio
ORIGINAL chassis or your own home -
MOUNTING built one -transistor tone
PLATE WITH generator. Either way, your
CONTROLS sack -time terminator doesn't
sound quite as harsh when you
revamp it yourself. Or does it?
CPO ALARM
CHASSIS
r ORIGINAL
POWER
TRANSFORMER
1000uF, I5V FILTER
CAPACITOR
GS ELECTRONICS HOBBYIST
No Bach on the Job...
original power transformer in the clock dulcet tone will awaken you just as readily
radio, but it will be necessary to add a drop- as any local radio station would. A suggested
ping resistor in the DC filter circuit of the circuit for the CPO, using a minimum of
power supply. See the Power Supply sche- parts, is shown in the CPO schematic dia-
matic diagram. Experiment with the value gram. The oscillator requires 3 volts, or so,
of the series dropping resistor, R1, until for proper operation and a series dropping
the voltage to the chassis is about 9 VDC. resistor, R1, in the filter circuit should be
Start with, say, 1000 ohms and gradually selected as described previously to give this
decrease the resistance value until the prop- output voltage.
er voltage is obtained with the AM radio The 5000 -ohm potentiometer, R2, should
volume set at minimum. A convenient way be adjusted for a pleasing tone and, if you
to do this is to use a potentiometer. There is prefer, replaced with a fixed, l -watt re-
no danger of damaging the potentiometer sistor of the nearest standard value. In some
since the power dissipated is only a fraction cases, it may be necessary to add a capaci-
of a watt. Remove thé potentiometer from tor, C2, across the primary of T2 to get the
the circuit and replace it with a one-watt tone you want, since the frequency of oscil-
fixed resistor that closely approximates the lation of the oscillator depends to a degree
potentiometer setting. Insert the fixed resis- upon the characteristics of the transformer
tor into the circuit and recheck the voltage. used. Do not use a capacitor larger than
Now check the performance of the re- .25 p,F. It may result in unstable oscillation
ceiver at normal volume. The power supply and low output. After the capacitor is per-
voltage will drop on volume peaks, but not manently installed readjust R2 for a pleas-
enough to cause serious distortion. ing tone and check the oscillator for prompt
Add A Tone. If you have no suitable AM starting.
chassis available as a replacement, why not That's all there is to giving the old clock
install a code practice oscillator instead? Its radio a new lease on life. Pleasant dreams!
111111111il1111il11111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111i iiiiiii iiii1111iiii111111, 111111111111111,11111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111,11111 111111
TI DI RI
117 VAC
S11n111111n1111111111n11 mn 11n 111111n 111111111111111111111111111111111111 111 11111111 1111 11111111 111,1111111,11 1 1,1 IIIN11111111111 e1111 I 1111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111.11111111
.SPRING-.SUMMER, 4974 69
Groove Booster
14 13 12 II 10 9 8
C3
1 2 3 4 5 6 7
ICI) TOP VIEW )
RI R2
rl
FROM
47K IOOK
C6 OUTPUT LEAD
10K OR HIGHER
5pF
MAGNETIC
PHONO
I
CARTRIDGE
r 25yf
.006pF
C4 C5
.00150F
Using a dual operational amplifier IC, the pins 7 and 14 to ground -and get their
Groove Booster will provide a fully polarity correct.
equalized 1 V rms output from standard 111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111 I I II I I II I I II 1111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111
70 ELECNONICS HOBBYIST
Broadcast Band DXers...
LOOK
AGAIN TO
A LOOP
Build this rotatable
antenna. Nulls out beat
interference. Helps track
down tough dog BC band DX.
MAIN
LOOP
FRAME
f--ROD
75
SPRING- SUMMER, 1974
SI
QI
SUPER BOOSTER
Placement diagram for SB's parts.
If the output is fed to an AC /DC-
type rig, disconnect the link and
ground J2's cold end separately.
GNI] J2
sistors," it probably won't work
with other dime -a- cheapies.
Worse yet, it might work only on
/
-9V LINK
very weak signals while distort- GROUND BUS 1M
_X
TEXT)
ing on strong signals. LEAIDS, L L2 -1
81 CONNECTOR LI /L2 J2
76 ELECTRONICS HOBBYIST
This is Super Booster's
printed circuit board drawn
full -size. If you make your
own PC board, follow this
pattern exactly; RF
instability, or regeneration,
could result if you don't.
Our diagram
shows where the various
components are mounted
on this PC board. Follow the
layout carefully.
point pen, trace the outline of each cement thinner or by scrubbing with
foil area. steel wool.
Remove the board, discard the carbon All of Super Booster's component
paper, and fill in the outlines with a mounting holes, except the one for
resist pen such as supplied in the Allied tuning capacitor Cl, are drilled with a
Radio Shack printed circuit board kits. number 58, 59 or 60 bit. Capacitor Cl
Allow about 15 minutes for the resist requires a 5/i6" mounting hole. The holes
to dry and then immerse the board un- in the corner of the PC board, used for
der at least '/4" of etchant. mounting the completed PC assembly,
When all the excess copper is dis- should clear #4 or #6 screws- which-
solved -about 45 minutes later -rinse ever you prefer.
the board thoroughly and remove the The PC board is best assembled in
resist with a cloth moistened in rubber the following manner: install capaci-
Jllllltllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllll llll llllllll lllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllll llllllllllllllll llilllllllllllll lllllllll lllilllllll llllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllll lllllllllllllllllllllllllllllll
l
B1-9 volt transistor radio battery (Burgess type R1- 1,000 -ohms, 1/2 -watt composition resistor,
2U6 or equiv.) 10% tolerance
C1 -365 pF subminiature poly -type variable R2,R3 -4,700 -ohms 1/2 -watt composition resistor,
L3
(SEE TEA
J2 PLI
JI
tSHIELDED
CABLE
QI FLAT
4
\SHORT ON PC
e c b
BOARD (SEE TEXT)
BOTTOM VIEWS
munnmunl
emuuuumummuumrmm limimmntnnuuummun limmmmuunmwnmtimmmnun nunnmumnmmmumummnunumm immummuuimmimmmnumnu
SPRING -SUMMER, 1974 77
brand or type of adhesive. Other brands,
LV V -VV111111
SUPER BOOSTER AU1:11 0.0 10 1121.`YL1l:,
tor Cl first, then all other components Check that the foil area outlined on
except Ql. Then push Q1's leads through the board has the indicated "breaks ".
the holes in the PC board and solder You don't want a closed loop. If you
them home. Finally, solder the two forgot and made a closed loop, cut four
power leads to their respective points breaks as indicated with a knife or hand
if you intend to check out the booster grinder. Apply a thin layer of Silicon
before installation in the cabinet. Rubber adhesive inside the marked coil
Note that Q1 is supplied with a area and press L1 -L2 into the adhesive.
shorting clip around all the leads. This Make certain L1's connection terminals
clip must be left in position until the are parallel to the board, with L2's leads
booster is completed and ready for away from the board. Then allow suffi-
operation. If the clip is removed, a high cient time for the adhesive to dry.
static voltage' from the tip of the We suggest you check out the PC
soldering iron, or a voltage generated assembly before it is installed in a cab-
through normal handling, might destroy inet. Remember to remove Q1's short-
Ql. ing clip! Simply pull on the end of the
Position transistor Q1 so that the tab clip with long nose pliers and the clip
sticking out from the case faces the will unwind from around Q1's leads.
nearest edge of the PC board. Position Connect a DC milliammeter rated at
transistor Q2 so that the round side of 5 mA or higher between the battery's
the case faces the nearest edge of the positive terminal and the board's posi-
PC board; the flat side faces the far tive foil. Connect the battery's negative
edge of the PC board. terminal to the board's negative foil.
Note that there are no crossed leads The meter should indicate slightly less
for Q1 and Q2. When they are oriented than 2 mA. If the meter indicates 1 mA
so the tab and round end are properly or less, or more than 2.5 mA, check for
aligned, the transistor leads will plug a component mixup or incorrect instal-
straight into the board. lation of Q1 and Q2. If the meter reading
Note that L2's leads have individual is correct, disconnect power and install
printed foil connections. Normally, one the board in a cabinet.
foil is connected to the boosters' ground We recommend a plastic cabinet with
through a shorting wire. The remaining aluminum panel such as shown in the
foil connects to antenna jack J1. If, for photographs. The plastic cabinet allows
some reason, you prefer a separate an- direct signal pickup by the loopstick,
tenna ground, open the shorting wire which will be more than adequate for
and install a "ground" jack on the most DX'ing. Keep antenna jack J1 as
panel. Connect the proper foil to the far as possible from coil Ll. Keep out-
ground jack. put jack J2 as close as possible to the
Because the components are mounted board's output terminals. The power
on the side of the pc board facing the and antenna input leads should be flat
cabinet panel, stand -offs must space the against the panel.
board away from the panel. You'll find, Make up a short, shielded output lead
however, that Cl's tuning shaft will be by wrapping a solid- conductor, insulated
too short to pass through the panel for wire around another wire. Keep the
application of a tuning knob. But the wrap turns against each other. Using
cure's simple enough; simply cut off a the shortest possible length of this
section of shaft from an old potentio- shielded wire, connect J2 to the board's
meter and epoxy-cement the section to output terminals. Make certain the
C1's shaft. Or, use a plastic extension "ground" wire goes from J2's ground
sleeve (such as the type supplied for lug to the ground foil.
"insulated shaft" potentiometers) ; the Adjust L1's slug clockwise with a
sleeve is rigid to suport a knob. small screwdriver until only 1/4" of the
The loopstick coil is cemented to the slug's adjusting screw sticks out of the
board with General Electric's RTV coil form. The other end of this screw,
Silicon Rubber adhesive. Use no other
78 ELEcrsoracs Homan
RI C2 CI R2 C3 LINK
LO
1.3
.5
MHZ
A 1
MHZ
1.0
the slug itself, will protrude about 1/4" your area, it is possible that its signal
out the end of the form. The slug is strength will be so greatly boosted that
generally secured with wax, so the first it might swamp the receiver when
turn or two might require a little extra listening to a weak signal on the other
force; don't be afraid to adjust the end of the dial. If this occurs, simply
slug if it "feels" tight. detune the booster away from the strong
Make up a connecting lead to go from local until its interference is gone. While
output jack J2 to the receiver's antenna this might sacrifice some gain on the
terminals. Any shielded wire or coaxial desired station, the actual loss will be
cable can be used. Install a phono plug slight.
on one end. For least signal attenuation, It is possible that the booster's output
the lead should not exceed 15 inches. might radiate back into the input (particu-
If the Super Booster will be used with larly when using a loopstick coupling coil).
a transistor radio having a built -in loop You'll know when this happens -the boost-
antenna and no external antenna er breaks into self-oscillation -as evidenced
terminals, connect the free end of the
output lead to a loopstick antenna
merely an exact duplicate of L1! If the
- by receiver blocking, or signals being tuned
in and then "lost" when Cl is adjusted. If
this happens, position the booster as far
loopstick has an antenna winding, such away from the receiver as possible.
as found on the specified loopstick, And, keep an external antenna, if used,
simply unwind the few turns and con- well away from the receiver and the
nect the output lead to the coil's solder booster's output. Do this, and under nor-
terminals. Position this coil on the mal conditions, there should be no in-
radio's case opposite its built -in antenna stability.
and tape the coil in position. Under certain conditions Super
-Using Super Booster. Turn on both the Booster will provide an additional benefit
receiver and booster and tune in the de- which should not be construed as im-
sired station. Adjust tuning capacitor C1 proper operation. Some inexpensive rigs
for maximum signal strength or highest are highly prone to marine band
S -meter reading. As a general rule, the "image" interference when signals at the
direct signal pickup by L1 will be more high end of the BC band are received.
than adequate. If greater sensitivity is The booster, by providing tuned pre-
needed, connect 6 to 15 feet of wire to selection, will eliminate or supress these
antenna jack J1. If you have the space images while providing signal amplifi-
needed for an outdoor longwire antenna, cation. Do not assume the loss of image
take note that the signal level into the interference means reduced sensitivity;
receiver can be so high as to overload actually, the desired signal will be get-
the receiver. ting full boost while the image signals
If there is a strong local station in are squashed.
SPRING - SUMMER, 1974 79
UHF ACTION BAND...
IGNAL SHIFTER
by Morrie Goldman
WA9RAQ
Clever
nothing -to -build STAT E P©!_ICE
technique puts
UHF action band signals
on any 30 -50 MHz
low band FM monitor
IF YOU already own a low band 30 -50 bration moves up. There is a limit to this
MHz Action Band (public service) mon- of course, but it is far enough below 450
itor and would like to tuné the UHF MHz to make a hook -up like this work the
public service band as well, here's a simple way we want it to.
solution: Just connect the output of a The connections are simple. We just sub-
standard UHF TV converter to the antenna stitute the low band monitor receiver for
input of your low band monitor. Since a the normal TV set connections. With a con-
UHF television converter must cover a verter output of channel 5 or 6, tune your
broad frequency range (470 -890 MHz) and monitor to about 49 MHz. If your con-
since its IF output is also broad, it is pos- verter's output is channel 2 or 3, try around
sible to tune -in UHF Action Band (450- 40 MHz. Now tune your UHF converter
470 MHz) signals on a low band monitor. slowly around channel 17. If there is UHF
A Little More Detail? Most TV converters activity in your area, you should be hearing
are designed with an IF output on channel it.
5 or 6; a few use 2 or 3. Whenever the Final Hook -Up: A regular UHF TV an-
converter is fed into a lower frequency IF, tenna should prove suitable in most areas.
the tuning range of the converter is effec- Of course, an outdoor antenna is preferred.
tively shifted lower (the dial calibration At my home in Chicago, many UHF sta-
moves up). While tuning a UHF TV con- tions (including police, taxi, radiotelephone,
verter connected to a TV set, you may etc.) are "solid copy" using just a low -cost
have already noticed the effect. If your con- UHF converter, regular UHF TV antenna,
verter's IF output is adjusted for channel 6 and either of my two low band monitors,
and you switch to channel 3 or 4, the cali- one of which is an $18 portable!
80 ELECTRONICS HOBBYIST
'Roto' Sta t
An inexpensive
efficient From the earliest days of
hand -powered experimenting with elec-
electrostatic trostatic electricity -say in the
4th Century B.C., when Plato
generator mentioned the wonderful at-
tracting power of amber- electro-
static electricity was produced by
laboriously rubbing glass rods or other
electrostatic producing objects with dry fur or
cloth. In 1663, in Germany, Otto von
Guericke used a large ball of sulphur to
generate electrostatic electricity by ro-
tating the sulphur ball and rubbing it
with his fingers. In 1706, in England,
Francis Hauksbee employed ro-
tating glass globes and cyl-
inders to generate static
by Charles Green
W6FFQ
81
SPRING -SUMMER, 1974
ball or cylinder. The generator is built on a
RotoStar
electricity, and he used a metallic con-
3/4 -in. white pine base and uses a wool cloth
rubber and a copper wire electrostatic col-
lector that's formed round the jar.
How It Works. Turning the generator han-
dle rapidly In a clockwise direction causes
ductor to collect the generated static elec- the wool- cloth to rub against the plastic
tricity from the generator. jar's surface. The friction of this rubbing
In 1744, in Germany, J.H. Winkler in- releases electrons which electrostatically
vented a mechanical rubbing device to use charge the jar's surface. As the jar is rotated,
in place of rubbing the glass cylinder with the pickup wire mounted on the ceramic
the fingers. His rubber used a leather -cov- standoff collects electrostatic charges from
ered cushion pressed against the rotating its surface and conducts them to the metal
globe. In America, in 1747, Ben Franklin ball output electrode.'A Leyden jar can be
used an electrostatic generator in some of charged by contacting its terminals to the
his electrical experiments; it contained a ro- metal ball output electrode and ground. (For
tating glass cylinder with a mechanical complete construction details for a Leyden
rubber. jar and an electroscope see Ben Franklin's
Even in this day and age, electrostatic ex- Leyden Jars, Dec. /Jan. 1970 SCIENCE AND
periments still fascinate the avid experimen- ELECTRONICS.)
ter. You can perform electrostatic electricity Plastic Power. We used a plastic jar 23/4 -
experiments by building and using our Roto- in. high x 23/4 in. diameter with plastic screw
Stat electrostatic generator, instead of gen- top for the rotating element of our Roto -Stat.
erating the electrostatic charges by hand - If another size plastic jar is used, scale the
rubbed glass or plastic rods. Our Roto -Stat, dimensions of your unit proportionately.
designed for easy construction, uses a plastic Since different types of plastic vary in their
cosmetic or similar jar in place of a glass ability to generate electrostatic electricity,
ROLLER
SKATE
WHEEL
WOOL CLOTH
ON "RUBBER' CHARGE PICKUP
WIRE
COPPER
RUBBER TUBING
BANDS
CERAMIC
STAND OFF
INSULATOR
METAL STRIP
FRONT
SUPPORT THREADED
BLOCK ROD PLASTIC HANDLE
Our Roto -Stat electrostatic generator, though not as huge as original ones built in early 18th Cen-
tury, is quite efficient. From details in photo and drawing you can build it.
82 ELECTRONICS HOBBYIST
2 -1/2" 2"
7 -1/2"
3/4,,
J
1-Plastic jar with screw -on or snap -on plastic 1- Threaded metal rod, 8 -in. long x 1/4-in. dia.
lid, 234 -in. high x 23/4-in. dia. (you may also Misc.-11/2 x 4 -in, wool cloth strips, wood screws,
want to use this size for Leyden jar and nuts and washers for threaded rod, screws
electroscope -see text) to fit ceramic insulator, cement, rubber
2-Metal knobs, approx. 7/8 -in. dia. (available bands, #18 to #22 bare copper wire, 34-in.
as automobile dash control or seat control thick pine for base, etc.
~MO 'ar .',..1
test the jar you've selected by rubbing it with the general layout of our unit.
a wool cloth and noting whether the jar at- Begin construction by cutting a 71/2 x
tracts small pieces of paper when the jar is 10 -in. base of 3/4 -in. thick pine or other
moved over them. If it doesn't, try a jar soft wood, then cut two 35/s x 3 x 3/4 -in.
made of different plastic material. wood blocks. Roller skate wheels, available
Any type of soft wood can be used for as replacements at most hardware or bicycle
the base. Just make sure that the wood is shdps, are used as driveshaft bearings. Cut
clean and dry. The dimensions given in our a hole in each wood block to fit roller skate
drawing are approximate, to serve as a wheel used for this purpose. The hole in each
guide. Any size generator unit can be built, block of our unit is made just large enough -
but for best results it's suggested you follow to force -fit the wheel into the hole in the
83
SPRING- SUMMER, 1974
wood block. Don't tighten the nuts now;
Roto-Stat
block. Duco cement or Elmer's Glue is used
you'll probably reposition the jar.
Position the rear block-mounted bearing
on threaded metal rod with a nut and wash-
er on both sides of the bearing. Adjust spac-
ing of nuts on the metal rod so that the jar
to hold the wheel securely in place. You may is in the center of the base as shown in
prefer to use long sheet metal screws through photos and drawing. Position the rear wood
the sides of the mounting blocks to hold the block so that metal rod and jar can turn
wheel. freely without binding, and fasten this block
Cone Or Cylinder. Drill holes in the center in position to the base with wood screws.
of the bottom of the plastic jar, and also Make sure that about 13/4 in. of metal rod
its lid, to fit the 3/s -in. threaded metal rod. projects out from the front bearing for at-
Cut and drill a conical wood section to fit taching the metal strip that holds the handle,
inside the plastic jar if the jar isn't straight - then tighten nuts against the jar and bearings.
sided (if it is, then you'll need a wooden Plastic Handle. We made the plastic han-
cylinder), extending from the jar bottom to dle from an alignment tool and bolted it to
the jar lid for internal support. A clearance a 21/4 x 1/2 x 1/2-in. metal strip with washers
hole for the metal rod, which serves as the to allow the handle to rotate freely. Fasten
axle for the jar, is drilled through the center a 3 x 11 x 1/4-in. piece of plywood to a
of this wooden block. hinge, and mount the hinged plywood sec-
Mount front supporting block on the base tion to the wood base adjacent to one side
as shown in our drawing. We used two wood of the jar. Mount a 2 -in. high x 1 -in. diam-
screws through the base to hold the block eter ceramic standoff to the base on the
to the base. Insert threaded metal rod opposite side of the jar as shown in our
through jar and skate wheel bearing and drawing and photos.
hold them in position on the rod with a nut Mount a small unpainted metal knob onto
and washer top and bottom of the jar and a piece of copper tubing, flatten the free
on either side of the bearing mounted in the end of the copper tubing, and mount it on
Even though we used materials found either in kitchen or bathroom this Leyden jar can store electro-
static charge generated by our Roto -Stat, so be sure it's discharged when stored.
84 ELECTRONICS HOBBYIST
the ceramic standoff. Also fasten a length periment, make sure that both the cloth on
of #22 or larger copper wire to the ceramic the rubber and the jar's surface are clean
standoff and bend it so that it curves around and dry. If necessary, expose both cloth
the jar for a length of about 11/2 in. but and jar to the rays of a heat lamp to dry up
doesn't touch it. Position the wire approxi- any moisture. These experiments may not
mately 1/16 in. away from the jar's surface work as well, or may not work at all in a
and cut off the excess length of wire. Small humid area, since a dry environment is nec-
rubber bumpers are fastened to each of the essary for best results. We suggest you per-
corners on the bottom of the base. form them in an air- conditioned room if at
Fold a piece of clean, dry wool cloth all possible for driest atmosphere.
over the top end of the hinged plywood Rotate generator handle rapidly in a
piece, holding the cloth in place by means clockwise direction, and hold the electro-
of a rubber band. Clean the surface of the scope so that its electrode makes contact
jar carefully. Place several rubber bands with generator's metal ball. Observe that
around the base of the ceramic standoff and the electroscope leaves deflect away from
stretch them 'round the bottom of the hinged each other. This indicates that the electro-
plywood section so that the wool cloth that static generator is operating and producing
is folded over its free end will be seated an electrostatic output voltage.
firmly against the side of the jar. Experiment 2. Connect the outer foil of a
Rotate the jar by turning the handle, mak- Leyden jar to ground or a large metal object,
ing sure that the jar turns freely, but with and bring the Leyden jar top electrode in,
a slight resistance from the wool cloth rub- contact with the generator metal ball. Ro-
ber, and that the pickup wire does not touch tate generator handle rapidly in a clockwise
the surface of the jar. Do not touch the sur- direction for a few minutes, then move the
face of the jar or the wool cloth after the Leyden jar away from the generator. Make
jar has been cleaned, because of the possi- sure you do not touch Leyden jar top elec=
bility of transferring moisture on your hands trode with your fingers. Carefully disconnect
to either or both. the Leyden jar outer foil lead from the
Experiment 1. Before performing any ex- ground. Then move the outer foil lead very
SMALL HOLE
.
1/4 -INCH
I -INCH
3 -INCH X
1/4 -INCH APPROX.
SHEET 1/8 -INCH ALUMINUM
ALUMINUM LOOPS FOIL LEAF
ELECTROSCOPE (MAKE 2)
PROBE
CLEAR PLASTIC
REFIGERATOR JAR
APPROX. 3 1/4- INCHES
HIGH X 2 3/4- INCHES
DIA
You'll want an electroscope to reassure you that your Roto -Scat is actually generating current be-
fore you start each experiment. It's easy to build and well worth the effort.
RotoStat
one lead of an NE -2 neon Iamp in contact
with the generator metal ball while you hold
the other lamp lead. The neon lamp should
flash momentarily, indicating that the gen-
close to the top electrode. Note that a small erator is operating.
spark will jump between the top electrode Move one of the neon lamp leads around
and the outer foil lead of the Leyden jar. the surface of the rotating plastic jar. Note
This indicates that the Leyden jar was that the neon lamp flashes, indicating the
charged with the electrostatic output voltage electrostatically charged areas.
from the generator. Remove the neqn lamp lead from the jar,
Repeat the experiment, except connect a rotate generator handle rapidly for a minute,
VTVM (preferably with a high voltage and then stop. Now move neon lamp lead
Here's how to hold your Leyden jar when you charge it from your Roto -Stat. Keep two metal balls
in constant contact while turning handle to generate charge.
probe) between the Leyden jar outside foil around on the surface, noting that the neon
and its top electrode, after Leyden jar has lamp still flashes, indicating that the electro-
been charged. Fasten one lead to ground statically charged areas on the plastic jar
strap and touch top electrode with the other will remain active for a period of time after
lead of the VTVM. Observe that the VTVM the surface of the jar is excited by rubbing.
momentarily indicates a large negative volt- Try different types of cloths for the rub-
age. This shows that the generator has a ber in place of the wool cloth and compare
negative electrostatic output voltage. their operation with that of a wool cloth.
Experiment 3. This experiment requires a Note rotation speed affects size of charge.
dimly lit area in order to best see the neon You can also try different configurations of
lamp. Rotate generator handle rapidly in a the wire collector.
if there's a doubting Thomas amongst those you're showing your Roto -Stat, prove it's generating
by placing Electrostat's collector against Roto-Stat's output ball.
86 ELECTRONICS HOBBYIST
Get out of the dark with the ...
Night
Trips
This Light
So You
Don't
Q2
QI Q2 CASE TO II
TO PCI AND R5
TO R5
Suggested perf board layout, top view. See schematic for complete wiring.
OI IOI u
I t m u
ll lm, l)111 111011) l l l l l 1111í l
DI
TI
RI 6.3 / 117
VAC VAC
IK R2
2.7K
R3 EMITTER
33052
R5 Q2
IOOK HEP-230
PCI
t. QI
HEP -50
e
CI
500uF
BASE
EMITTER
HEP -230
BASE
PHOTOCELL
D2 NO.47
LAMP
HEP -50
COLLECTOR
(BOTTOM VIEWS)
88 ELECTBONICS HOBBYIST
SOUND
POLLUTION
TIPSIER
THERE'S BEEN a lot Blow the whistle on noise Would you like to know
said lately about high- with this simple, portable de- if you're living and work-
level sound and your tector; it measures local en- ing or playing in a dan-
ears. Much of the pub- vironmental noise levels with ger zone? For about
licity and controversy a flashing light emitting twenty dollars in parts
centers around todays diode. and an evening of solder-
pop music with its elec- ing fun you can build a
By Herb Cohen noise pollution tipster to
tronic sound reinforce-
ment and big -bass. But if just outlawed snowmo- find out. It's a lightweight
loud sounds can be harm- biles with a sound level portable sound -level me-
ful, as experts say, just of more than 82dB (deci- ter that uses the latest
where does the danger bels) and after July 1973, technology and comes
cease? What about medi- the ceiling is just 73dB. straight from an elec-
um level sounds we come What's a dB? In terms tronic experimenters
in contact with every day? of sound, a dB describes workbench. Based on
Quite recently the City the smallest increase or data from the New York
of New York completed decrease that an ear can and other studies, we've
a study about noise. hear. Pile one dB on top built our tipster to flash
Some of the results are of another and pretty when the sound intensity
quite disquieting! Not soon you'll have a genu- reaches certain minimum
only can noise levels in ine ear splitting sound. values. They are 50dB,
the city cause hearing At levels approaching 70dB, and 85dB.
loss, they can interrupt 120dB you actually begin For an idea of what
enough sleep to cause to feel the sound; at some typical levels are,
fatigue and possible per- slightly higher levels, the a whisper at 5 feet is
sonality changes. In ad- threshold of pain oc- about 35dB, a normal
dition, Massachusetts has curs. conversation is about
SPRING- SUMMER, 1974 89
TIPSTER RANGE
SWITCH INDICATOR
LAMP
Shaver -electric 85
Shower 78 CONVERSATIONAL SPEECH AT
Sink drain 86 3 FEET
60dß
Telephone ring (61/2 ft.) 78
TV 68
Vacuum cleaner 85
AVERAGE SUBURBAN
Washing machine -automatic 64 LIVING ROOM
Water faucet 68 40dB
Whisper (5 ft.) 10
,unnewunmuunnuueununuuuumeneunnnuwnuueueeeeeuuuuuuu...r_
It should be noted that we are not talking about a linear
scale when we discuss dB. We are talking about a measure-
ment technique that uses logarithmic ratios. It means that QUIET RECORDING STUDIO
each time a sound intensity doubles, the new sound
measurement is lust 3d8 greater than before. For example, 20dB
doubling the intensity of a 50d8 sound level will increase
the value to 53dB, not 100. This technique must be used
because there is such a great difference between loud and
soft sounds. By using a logarithmic system, the number
describing the difference can be small. Why say an in-
crease of 4,000,000 times when it's easier to convert to
the logarithmic notation and say a 66d8 increase?
THRESHOLD OF HEARING -O
90 ELECTRONICS HOBBYIST
Our sound pollution tipster
may not be as fancy as com-
mercial units, but it doesn't
cost 800 dollars either!
C4
56pF RI0 RII
R4
. 5 150K
.
3.3K
R14
33K
-
22K
RI,
91K:
CI
.05uF
C5
+1
IOuF
02
= BI
9V
R8 HEP -716
C6
R2 R6
MI
8.2K: 56011 2 56K
7 c
30uF
C2 IC 6 QI
R3
2K:
25pF uA7 HEP -736 R15
33052
R7 3
15K R12 i+C7
1.2K T -
TOP VIEW -
8 R5 ± C3 R13 LED
uA74I 22K 10uF 33K 10011 HEP -P2000
BOTTOM VIEW -1
COLLECTOR
EMITTER BASE HEP 716
HEP 736
2N3904
PARTS LIST FOR SOUND POLLUTION TIPSTER
B1 -9 -volt
battery, Eveready 216 or equiv. R3- 2000 -ohm, 1/2 -watt resistor, 5%
C1 -0.05 uF disc capacitor, 15 VDC or better R4, 5- 22,000 -ohm, 1/2 -watt resistor
C2 -25 pF disc capacitor, 15 VDC or better R6- 560 -ohm, 1/2-watt resistor
C3, 5 -10 uF, 15 VDC electrolytic capacitor R7- 15,000 -ohm, 1/2-watt resistor
C4-56 pF disc capacitor, 15 VDC or better R8- 56,000 -ohm, 1/2 -watt resistor
C6-30 uF, 10 VDC electrolytic capacitor R9, 14- 33,000 -ohm, 1/2 -watt resistor
C7 -150 uF, 15 VDC electrolytic capacitor R10- 150,000 -ohm, Y2 -watt resistor
IC1- Operational amplifier, type 741 (Radio R11- 3300 -ohm, 1/2-watt resistor
Shack No. 276 -010, Fairchild uA 741, etc) R12 -1200 -ohm, 1/2 -watt resistor
LED-Light emitting diode, Motorola HEP -P2000 R13- 100 -ohm, 1/2-watt resistor
Ml- Microphone, crystal (Lafayette Radio 99- R15- 330 -ohm, 1/2 -watt resistor
45130 or equiv.) SI- Switch, 3 -pole, 4- position (Mallory No.
Ql -NPN transistor, 2N3904, HEP -736 or equal 3234J)
Q2 -PNP transistor, HEP -716
R1- 91,000 -ohm, 1/2 -watt resistor, 5% Misc.- Hardware, knobs, perforated board,
R2 -8,200 -ohm, 1/2 -watt resistor push -in clips, wire, solder, etc.
:unuuuuuuunununnnunnmununuumun 111111111111111111111111 11111111 1111 111111ueppuppppnpp pppn pp ppnppp uuuunnuuununuuuuuunuuuuuiaununuuuuuuunuuunumumlr,
SPRING -SUMMER, 1974 91
TIPSTER RANGE
SWITCH MICROPHONE
PARTS LIST
Providing 9 volts at approximately 250 mA,
this lab-type power supply will handle many C1- 500 -HF, 25 -VDC electrolytic capacitor
C2- 100-0, 15 -VDC electrolytic capacitor
experimenter projects. Actually, Ti can Dl- Motorola HEP-175 50 -PIV diode bridge rec-
be a 6.3 -V imported filament transformer tifier
since they usually give approximately 12 V D2- Motorola HEP-104, 9.1 -V Zener diode
peak at less than 500 mA output. Change al-Motorola HEP -240, 10 -watt npn transistor
R1 -560 -ohm, 1/2-watt resistor
the Zener diode to 12 or 6 volts (and poss- T1 -12 -V filament transformer (see text)
ibly the value of Rl) and you get a regula- anunnunuununuunnnnnnnnnnnummuueunnnunuuunnnnnnuuuuuuuenumR
ted 12- or 6 -volt supply.
For 12 volts DC you GRN
must use a 12 -V filament DI
Basket of Sound
Would you like something different in
Our redwood speaker a loudspeaker? Here is one like none
other. It is so radically different from
opens the outdoors those oiled walnut, small box speakers
to Beethoven or Rock. we usually encounter, it may be com-
Build it with an pared to the commercial varieties only
by its size. In appearance, it is equally
inexpensive planter box at home in a small listening room or in
from your local a 4- channel arrangement around a
swimming pool. Or, hang it beneath the
garden nursery eaves of your house, preferably at an
inside corner, to enhance the low fre-
quency response.
by Herman F. Johnson Everyone likes small size loudspeak-
ers because of their portability. When
you attempt to build one from scratch
however there is rarely enough room in-
side to hold a screwdriver! Finishing an
enclosure to suit one's decor can also
be quite a problem. But one way to
avoid construction difficulties, yet build
a better -than -average small speaker, is
to start with a pre -assembled box or two
(or four). That way most of your effort is
simply fitting a speaker baffle.
Green Thumb Ground Supply. One
type of box that is suitable for a speaker
enclosure can be found in your garden
nursery store. The redwood planters.
They are sturdily built to hold soil for a
number of years. Redwood is less sus-
ceptible to warping than other forest
materials, and planter boxes are usually
made of 3/4 -in. board securely joined.
The planter employed in this application
has side walls that are 5/16 -inch thick,
and the bottom is a 3/4 -inch solid board.
Inside dimensions are 93/4 -in. square
by 6 -in. deep. About an inch of the
SPRING -SUMMER, 1974 93
Basket of Sound
depth is lost when speaker mounting pieces
are installed, but a sufficient volume of
about 480 cubic inches remains available for
the speaker.
Construction. It is a good idea to inspect
the inside areas of the box to determine if
there are any crevice openings along the
inside corners. Seal these openings while
running a bead of caulking full length along
all the mating surfaces. Silicone rubber is
ideal for this purpose, though other non -
hardening caulking may be used. It is im-
portant that a speakér enclosure be made
airtight to insure adequate low frequency
sound.
Pencil-line the perimeter inside the box
3A -in. from the edge of the open end with
an adjustable square. This will locate the
front face of the cleats after you cut them
to length (piece numbers 1 and 2 in the
drawing). Fit the cleats in place for a snug
fit. Then pencil -line the perimeter once
more using the inside edge of the cleats as Your redwood planter comes completely put
a guide. These locator lines are a help when together ready to be turned into one great
indoor /outdoor speaker. Sounds great, too!
you are ready to glue the cleats in place.
Plastic resin glue is the best bonding agent Gate the Drain Source. All planter boxes
for this purpose, it is stronger than the wood have at least one drain hole in the bottom.
when dry. You will find sufficient room to Install a terminal strip over the hole and
drive one inch long nails through the cleats caulk this opening on the inside after a
to compress the glued joints and hold them length of speaker hook -up wire has been
in place. installed. However, if you intend to use the
., 1 111 111 1111 1 111 11 1 11 11 i 11 1 1 11 1 11 111 n 1 11 111 11 1 1 11 1 1 1 11 1 1 n111 n 1111 11 11 11 n1 1 1 n 1 111 1 1111 11 11 1 n 11 11 1 1 11 1 111 1 11 1 111 11 1 n 1 1 n n n n 111 1 111 111 n 11 11 1 1 111 1 11 1 1 11 11 1 11 1 11 11 11 11 1 1 11 11 11 11 1 1 11 11 11 11 1 1 11 1 1 n1 1 n 11 11 1 1 11 1 1 11 11 n 11 1/ 1 1 11 1 1 1 n1 11 11 1 n
CLEAT 41íN.
FRONT PANEL CUTOUT
5; IN. DIAMETER
LONG
SPEAKER
MOUNTING
HOLES (4)
4¡ IN.
RING
CLEAT
SP AKER -- 7iIN.
DIAMETER
BAFFLE LONG
CUTOUT
Mark a perimeter line inside the planter
box 3/4-in. from the outside edge. This is
7; IN. to locate the front face of the 4-cleats (No.
1 and 2) after you cut them to their correct
FRONT PANEL AND SPEAKER
size. Fit the cleats in place and draw an-
BAFFLE ARE BOTH 9ié IN. other perimeter line to help locate them when
SOUARE,;-IN. HARDBOARD they are later glued into place.
;1uuuuuuunnnuuuuuuunnuuunuuauununununnununnnuuuuunnnuunnnunnnnnuuuuuumuuuuuuiuuuuuuuunnuuunnuuuuuuuunnuuuuunnuuuunnuuuuunnr.
94 ELECTRONICS HOBBYIST
Speaker Mountings. Locations for the
four machine screw holes in the speaker
baffle should be templated from the speak-
er's frame with the speaker centered over
the 41/2-inch diameter cut-out, while holes
in the ring can be templated from the four
holes in either the front panel or the speaker
baffle. The flat heads of the screws should
be flush with the surface of the hardboard.
When assembling these parts note that tee
nuts are pressed into place on the embossed
side of the front panel. The front panel is
then glued and screwed to the cleats (em-
bossed side toward cleats). Your speaker is
back -mounted to the smooth surface of the
baffle. This provides a seal without the use
RING of a gasket. Note that the speaker baffle
covers all of the flathead wood screws in the
PLANTER BOX
FRONT SPEAKER front panel. The ring has been added for
PANEL BAFFLE esthetic reasons, to cover flat head screws
Fan -outview of front area illustrates how and bolts and to secure the fiberglass cone
simple construction really is. Front ring protector screen. Only four round head
is added to improve enclosure's appearance. screws are exposed at the front.
Before the front panel is permanently in-
speaker outdoors, it is best to plug the drain stalled, fill the inside cavity with 5 layers of
hole with a wood dowel or a cork. Then one-inch fiberglass. The front two layers
designate a side as the underside and drill should be cut out in the center to clear the
a 1/4 -in. hole about two inches from the magnet structure of the speaker. High com-
open end for hook -up wire. pliance speakers operate most efficiently in
Standard 1/4 -inch hardboard is ideal for small enclosures when damped with fiber-
mounting the speaker to the front face of glass. (turn page)
the planter. This material has a smooth flat
surface on the front and a waffle -like pat- DRAIN HOLE PLANTER BOX
tern embossed on the back. Note in the
photograph that the speaker is mounted FFTN. FLAT HEAD *6 1-1-1
with three parts-front panel, speaker baf- r1 I WOOD SCREWS
[i
fle, and a front facing ring (piece numbers L.
3,4 and 5 respectively). Mark the hole lo-
r-,
L.
A FRONT PANEL
cations and eut -outs on the smooth face and a-- TEE NUT
L"Y SPEAKER;
make the cuts. Your front panel should
r-]L.
make a snug fit inside the box, but your
speaker baffle should fit loosely in the open-
ing. It is a good idea to clamp these two ®SPEAKER ©LOCATION
SCREEN © RING
parts together when drilling the four outside BAFFLE
mounting holes. Then, all four holes in the Planter box drain holes should be plugged
front panel should be redrilled to fit the tee to prevent turning your enclosure into a
nuts. bird's nest if you put it to use outdoors.
mmnnnuununlauunumm11nnuuuuuunnmmmnununuwumuuunumumuwwum mnuwmmuununuu III uuuminmumunuuunnwuu,nunmimummunwu,,,n,
OPTIONAL FINISHING
If the speaker is to be used outdoors, it is advisable to give all of the
hardboard pieces a coating of resin sealer. A pleasing front appearance
can be had by coating the embossed surfaces of the speaker baffle and the
ring with a color -toned penetrating sealer to match the prefinished planter.
If the redwood color is not appealing, you can paint- decorate all of the
outside surfaces, or give it a coating of charcoal resin sealer to obtain a
dark, woodsy finish.
-1111111111111111111111 1 111,11111111111,11111,1,11111, u 1,1111111111,11,1,1u u i i , , ,,,, ,,,1,1,1111,u 1111111 ,,,,, a 111 u 1111,1,1111 u 1,1 inn 1111111,1111111111111111,11111,111,1111,1111111,111111,111,1111111111,11 .
11
Redwood planter, No. HB1 -12 or similar. (Distributed to garden. nurseries by Germain's, Inc.,
4820 50th Street, Los Angeles CA 90058)
F.
Altec 405A 4-in. wide range speaker. (Altec- Lansing, 1515 South Manchester Avenue, Anaheim
CA 92803)
g1111111111111111111111111111 11111111111111111111111 11111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111I II I111111I1111111111111111111II II II III II 1111111 IIII II111111111111111111111111111111111111111r.
96 ELECTRONICS HOBBYIST
SWEDEN. by
Herbert Friedman
Hot Enough
For DXing
Best of all, this pleasant, interesting music
You can build a Super SCA detector is never interrupted by an endless barrage
that's powerful enough for DXing! It's a of commercials or the patter of an an-
two -IC circuit in an atgplifier and phase nouncer in love with his own voice.
locked loop detector configuration. And it's How it's done. SCA programming is
superior to many other PLL detector cir- transmitted by a 67 kHz FM sub- carrier
cuits because it has an IC amplifier to boost that is impressed on the main FM carrier.
and lift the relatively weak 67 kHz sub- When a station broadcasting SCA is re-
carrier signal from the FM signal. That ceived by a standard FM tuner, the SCA
makes it a must for fringe areas. sub -carrier is simply wiped out -the listen-
But let's go back to what SCA is. When a er has no idea it exists. To receive SCA, the
Subsidiary Communication Authorization FM tuner's output is usually passed through
(known as SCA) is granted to an FM sta- a filter that wipes out everything except the
tion by the FCC, that station is permitted SCA sub -carrier and it's modulation. When
to transmit a second program in addition the sub-carrier is demodulated, the output
to its regular program by a special method is only the SCA program; to the SCA listen-
of modulation. A standard FM radio, even er, the standard programming doesn't exist.
a stereo radio, cannot detect these special Until recently it took a lot of expensive
broadcasts. The regular listening audience hardware to receive SCA programs: a very
hears only the standard mono or stereo pro- sensitive receiver and a rock -steady de-
gramming. In fact, there is no way of tector. (A good receiver is needed because
even telling whether or not a station en- the SCA carrier is ,pply 10% of the total
gages in SCA programming. That is, not FM signal.) Thoug many low cost SCA
íW
BI
±6 VOLT
I-C7 R7 BATTERY
TIµ F C8
1.8 K CIO SUPPLY
IOOK470pF 47pF
(SEE T EXT)
CI C2 =
41.3
7
8i- 10pF
6
C9
470pF
R8
5K 8
.001µF
I
10
7
-V-
Slb
'o -1I
B2
I
ICI 2
INPUT H
RI R2 2 NE53IT T
IC 2 4
4.7K 47K 4 3 NE565A R9 CI7
RI
IK
I
IK .051.1.F
R4
R5 R6 _PCII
I
1
RIO
47K C4 4.7K 4.7K
I
NE565A R3
.1/4F T.001 Cl2 IK _C13 -C14
I
H 02µF 05µF .02µF
14 8 47041
C3 OUTPUT,
.0051 C5
100/AF
7
y"
TOP VIEW -6 TO
OPTIONAL AC
POWER SUPPLY
-9 VOLTS TI
NE53IT SR2 + 9 VOLTS
C15
o
1 8 SR4 = CI6
BOTTOM VIEW 9 VOLTS
98 ELECTRONICS HOBBYIST
GND
RIO - ''
C
-C7
RII 8 7
C13 JUMPER--,,
I C 12
I I
CII
C8
C17 -C9-
L
-v
14
RI I6 -R4- -R3-1-C3-^''
OUT` S:''':.: IC 2
INPUT GND
OUT GND JUMPER
+g
Exact PC
board size.
Transfer
image to
copper clad
board using
carbon
paper.
This is
the bottom
(copper)
side of
your board.
SPR NG-SUMMER, 1974 99
How to Etch a Circuit. Your first step is
SUPER SCA ADAPTOR to prepare the PC board. Since the board
must be precise, we suggest you work
directly from the supplied template rather
described to insure complete stability. than through an intermediate tracing. Cut
Some Tech Talk. The signal from your a section of any type copper clad board to
FM tuner's detector before de- emphasis 2 1/4 -in. x 4 1/4 -in., clean the copper surface
is applied to operational amplifier ICI with a strong household cleanser such as
through a high pass filter consisting of Cl, Ajax or Comet and place a piece of carbon
C2, R1 and R2. The filter's rollover fre- paper, carbon side towards the copper, on
quency is 60 kHz, which removes a sub- the board. Tape the board under the tem-
stantial part of the main channel informa- plate and, using a sharply pointed tool such
tion. Frequency response of the amplifier as a scribe, indent the copper foil at each
is tailored by the feedback loop through R3 component mounting hole by pressing the
and C3 to further supress main channel point of the tool through the template into
information. IC1's output is fed through the foil. (Each indent will serve to mark the
high pass filter C9 and R5 to IC2, the phase hole's location when the board is drilled.)
lock loop detector. IC2's output is passed Using a ball point pen and firm pressure,
through a low pass filter consisting of C12, trace the outline of the foil areas.
C13, C14, R9, R10 and R11 which provides Continue. . . Remove the board from
de-emphasis and noise supression. The under the template, discard the carbon
output level at C15 is about 50 to 100 mV, paper and, using a resist pen such as the
depending on the signal, and can be fed to Kepro RMP -700, available from Allied
your hi -fi or utility amplifier. Radio, fill in the foil areas with resist.
Since SCA frequency response is limited Note that some of the ICI and IC2 pins
to 7 kHz, just about any amplifier can be are not used, though they must pass through
used. the board. Place a drop of resist over the
Note that the adaptor requires a bi -polar indents so you'll know where to drill after
power supply in the range of ±6 to ±9 the unwanted copper is etched away. Simi-
volts. The power supply can be either larly, mark the indents at the corner mount-
,batteries or a power line bridge rectifier ing hole locations. Make certain you mark
using a center-tapped 12 volt filament IC1 terminal number 8; you can use a drop
transformer as shown on the schematic. of resist.
Since the adaptor requires only about 10 Immerse the PC board under at least
mA of current, any small transformer can 1/4-in. of etchant for about 45 minutes and
be used. then inspect the board. If all the unwanted
RII RIO CIO R9 C7 C6' C4 C5 C2
C12 CII R7 R6 R5 R4 R3 C3
Completed circuit board. Resistor R8 easily adjusts frequency of Pll to 67 kHz.
No ELECTRONICS HOBBYIST
copper has not been etched away, re- FM DETECTOR
immerse the board in five minute intervals TRANSFORMER
until all the copper not protected by resist
has been removed. Then rinse the board
under running water and remove the resist MPX OR
by scrubbing briskly with a steel wool pad 4- CHANNEL
such as Brillo. OUTPUT
IN SOME
Using a #56 drill bit, drill the holes for RECEIVERS TO STEREO
the connecting terminals (push -in terminals) DETECTOR
and trimmer potentiometer R8. Drill the CONNECT SUPER MONO
corner mounting holes to clear a #4 or SCA ADAPTOR HERE =C OUTPUT
# 6 screw and drill the remaining compo- Always connect SCA adaptor before de-
nent holes with a #58, #59 or #60 bit. emphasis network R, C as shows above.
You Can Buy the Board. You don't have Most tuners, receivers do have an MPX
to make a printed circuit board for the jack for a home SCA, or 4- channel use.
Super SCA-you can buy one. The Elec-
tronics Hobby Shop is offering the PC board essentially no difference in performance
completely etched ready for drilling and between a ±6 V and {- 9 V power supply,
assembly. This beats trying to copy the use whatever you have available. For long-
author's board layout exactly, and the mess term battery life we suggest Burgess type
and expense of etching copper. Z4 6 volt batteries (or their equivalent).
Mount the Components. Install ICI and The Super SCA adaptor connects to your
IC2 before any other components. Note mono FM tuner or receiver detector before
that the IC 1 lead opposite the case tab is the de- emphasis. If you connect after the
number 8. Insert the leads (begin with de- emphasis network, you will find the 67
number 8) and push ICI toward the board kHz subcarrier has been filtered from the
until there is about 3/4-in. between ICI and signal, so you will get nothing but noise
the board. Solder the wires and cut off the from the adaptor. The figure shows a typi-
excess. cal FM detector output, the de-emphasis
Hold the PC board so you are looking at network and the correct connecting point
the top with ICi to the left. Hold IC2 so the for the adaptor. Since it is possible the
notch is away from you and insert IC2's adaptor might load down the detector for
leads into the matching holes. Doublecheck normal FM reception, we suggest a switch
the notch before soldering. It is correct if be installed, so the adaptor can be removed
the distance from the notch to the edge of from the circuit for normal FM listening.
the PC board is greater than that of the The adaptor is most conveniently con-
unnotched end to the opposite edge of the nected through a phono jack installed in
PC board. If all is okay, solder IC2. the tuner's rear apron, though you can use
Install trimmer potentiometer R8 and a direct wire connection.
solder. Make certain you use sufficient Note that if you have one of the older
soldering heat to flow solder to R8's ter- mono FM tuners with an "MPX output"
minals. you already have the correct connection as
Then install the three wire jumpers and, the MPX output is the non de- emphasized
finally, the remaining components taking detector output. Similarly, if you have a
extreme care that the polarity of capacitors modern FM Stereo tuner with a "4-channel
C5 and C6 is correct. Note that CS has the decoder" or a "quadrasound decoder" out-
positive lead connected to ground. put you also have the correct connection;
While capacitors C12 and C14 are indi- they are also non de- emphasized detector
cated as 0.02 uF, they are not the easiest to outputs.
obtain in miniature size. You can substitute Connect the tuner's detector output to the
two parrallel- connected 0.01 uF capacitors. adaptor with the shortest possible length of
Simply twist their leads together and insert
.
shielded cable or ordinary zip cord, or in-
them into the matching holes. Do not tin stall the adaptor directly in the receiver if
the twisted leads prior to soldering as they there is sufficient room. Connect the adap-
will not fit into the holes if tinned. tor's output to any high gain amplifier; for
Set -up and Checkout. Either a bi -polar example, the microphone input of your hi -fi
battery power source or a standard bi -polar amplifier, or a utility amplifier is fine. or
power supply can be used. Since there is maybe an old tape recorder. (See page 102)
SPRING- SUMMER, 1974 101
If adjusting R8 doesn't bring in a clean
SUPER SCA ADAPTOR signal, it's not SCA. Note that once R8 is
adjusted there is no stereo hash interference
on SCA signals. Hash will only be heard
R8 Locks Loop. Tune in a station you from non SCA signals.
know is transmitting an SCA program (a Problems? The high sensitivity of this
call to your local station should get you the system may require desensitizing proced-
info.) and adjust trimmer potentiometer R8 ures; in the event you cannot receive any
for best sound quality. Normally, the re- SCA stations, you either have none in your
ception will be almost completely garbled, area or you have made a construction error.
then fade into a clean signal as R8 is ad- If the non -SCA program from the tuned-in
justed, then fade into garbling again as R8 station is heard breaking through the SCA
is further adjusted. Set R8's wiper so it is programming, follow the suggestions in our
approxitñately midway between the two troubleshooting box. If your adaptor doesn't
points of garbled sound. Usually, the best work at all, beg, borrow or steal an oscillo-
sound will occupy a broad part of the R8 scope and check input and output wave-
adjustment range, so don't try to be too forms as shown in the scope photos. Just
fussy. be sure to return the scope so we don't get
If you don't know which station(s) are in trouble with John Law for inciting a
transmitting SCA, set R8 to the mid posi- felony!
tion and tune every station very carefully What's Your Beef? Here are some hints
and slowly. When you hear anything that to help you steer clear of trouble-straight
sounds like distorted music, try adjusting toward your musical enjoyment and SCA
R8; if it is real SCA, it will turn clean as DXing!
R8 is adjusted. Some stereo stations might ft., If your problem is a weak signal re-
cause sound bursts that you think are SCA. (Continued on page 107)
V"P"P".149.1`.
1rrrlrrr/11r1!rrlit
11111111111111111111111111111.
C D
Oscilloscope patterns quickly locate any possible difficulty. You can use a general
purpose scope since the signals are under 100 kHz. With "triggered" scopes, set the
time base to 10 u sec /cm. Photos B and C are input and output of ICI, the 67 kHz
amplifier. If signal is clipped as in A, main channel program may break through -
see text for cures. Normal IC2 pin 9 waveform at D. Vert. sens: B, 20mV /cm; C, 1V /cm.
hen the FCC opened the FM band to and so at times there was poor sound. Or,
W permit legal use of low- powered trans-
mitters for wireless microphones, telemeter -
no sound at all! This is very disturbing for
any performer whose roller- coaster voice
ing and for measurement, they opened a levels causes the audience to loose a tomato/
Pandoras Box for many an experimenter. egg barrage!
Within the short space of time after the Simple Magic. Our Magic -Mike certainly
FCC relaxed their regulations, there was a solves the tuning problem and so ultimately
flood of flea -power devices on the market. solves the major drawback of this equip-
Some were good, some bad, but most had ment. You may well ask what makes Magic -
one basic inherent problem. Body capacity Mike so different, especially when we note
affected the tuning of the device, which, in that a commercially -produced transistorized
turn, affected its usefullness. oscillator is used to generate the signal? Se-
No doubt about it. For a speaker or per- cret is, we added an FET (Field Effect Tran-
former to be completely free of a fixed posi- sistor) buffer stage to the output of the com-
tion- dictated mostly by the best location mercial unit. That isolated the tuned ele-
for a floor microphone in a PA system-is ments of the oscillator from the antenna and
probably the dream of all would -be orators thereby eliminated the problem of body ca-
and very- off -Broadway thespians. So, as pacity disturbing the tuning of the oscillator.
soon as the new wireless microphones were This buffer stage is comprised of compo-
introduced, there was a rush to try them out. nents R1, Cl, C2, L2 and Q1. These are
It didn't take long before it was discov- wired as an RF amplifier. Transistor Q1 is
ered that this ideal device was not so ideal. an n channel FET operating in a positive
Problem was, when tuned up on the bench, ground circuit which may appear to be a bit
the little devils worked perfectly. But, after unusual.
the bench tune-up, when concealed in the Microphone Making. Sure, you could wind
clothing of a voluptuous young chick, or, for coils and assemble transistors, resistors and
that matter, an uninteresting looking gentle- capacitors together into a basic oscillator.
man, the tuning was off. But if you're like us -a little on the lazy side
Just by walking or breathing, the signal -it's much simpler, and cheaper, to buy a
quality, as well as its output level changed. commercially -built unit to start your proj-
SPRING -SUMMER, 1974 103
machine screws with /4 -in. spacers raising it
1
r - ANTENNA(SEE TEXT)
R1
12M
s 9V ..,_
_i _I 9`=
01
d
2N54571 1-2
C2 -¡- (SEE
,D11 15pf I TEXT)
CRYSTAL
1
1
d g s
MICROPHONE 2(15457
MM
L (BOTTOM VIEW)
B1 -9V Battery (Eveready 216 or equiv.) 1-4 X 21/8 X 15/8 -in. plastic mini utility
Cl, C2 -15 pF, 1000V ceramic disc ca- box with aluminum panel (Lafayette
pacitor (Lafayette 32F01514 or equiv.) 99F80780 or equiv.)
L2-31/2 turns #22 bare copper wire (see 1 -Battery connector (Calectro F3-052
text) or equiv.)
MM1 -FM wireless microphone module 1- Crystal lapel microphone (Calectro
(Radio Shack 277-205 or equiv.- Q4 -189 or equiv.)
see text)
Ql -n channel FET, Motorola MPF103 Misc. Wire, solder, bolts, nuts, spacers,
or HEP 801 or 2N5457 perfboard, push -in terminals, aluminum
R1- 12,000,000 -ohm, 1/2 -watt carbon re- strip for battery clamp, etc.
sistor
One thing not mentioned -the antenna instructions that come with the Archer
discussed above -is
soldered to the center module! We haven't changed the module's
tap of coil L2. It should be made from a basic how -it -works principles. All we've
piece of #22 stranded wire about 18 -in. long. done is to provide a means of eliminating
You might try points other than the exact one of the principle drawbacks inherent
physical center of coil L2 as the final con- in all of these units. Namely, the problem
nection point for the antenna. A spot a little of a chick's body capacity broadly detuning
ahead or perhaps behind the midpoint may the oscillator.
produce a better signal.
So okay, already, how RI
does a smart operator like
you groove on Magic -
Mike? Just follow the
b The coupon below is designed for your convenience. Just circle the
numbers that appear next to the advertisement or editorial mention that
interests you. Then, carefully print your name and address on the
coupon. Cut out the coupon and mail to ELECTRONICS HOBBYIST, Box
886, Ansonia Station, New York, N.Y. 10023. Do it today!
right sent to me as 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30
soon as possible. un- I
31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40
derstand that this is a
free service offered by 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50
I the magazine. 51 52 53 54 55 56 57 58 59 60
Name (Print Clearly)
Address
r
City State Zip Code
...,«
,111111111 iiiiiiiiiiiiiii lllll Iunl 111111 lllllllllllll uu un uu uu uu 11111 llllllll uu uu uu uuuu un un nuu uu un nuun un uu un u u u n nuuuu un un uu uu uu un uu un uu u n u u u, I,M,I MM IMM M
1 1
I N
SPRING - SUMMER, 1974 107
Also, notice that when the clock is oper- 31 days, so don't forget to advance the date
ated in the 24 -hour mode, it will indicate indication on February 28 (or 29 if it's Leap
zero for the month of December, instead of Year) to March 1, otherwise you'll wind up
12. If you plan to operate the clock in the with February 31, which is a pretty unlikely
24 -hour mode and would like the correct date! Do the same thing with April 30,
month indication for December, you will re- changing it to May 1, and so on with June,
quire an additional switch, an additional September, and November.
transistor, two diodes, and two resistors, as ,1111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111MUI111111111111111111111111111111111111e
40,
shown in the schematic.
Adjustments. There are only two adjust-
ments: R6 controls the brightness of the F.
slug so the bottom of the screwdriver slot . and the speaker volume will probably re-
is level with the very top of L1. This will main the same, though the S -meter reading
provide a frequency range of approximate- will increase. SUPER DXER'S boost will be
ly 5 to 15 MHz. If you back out the slug most apparent on very weak signals, dig-
V4 -in., the frequency coverage will be from ging out those signals below the receiver's
approximately 7 to 21 MHz. You can use usual threshold sensitivity, making them
any in- between slug adjustment. perfectly readable.
Turn on the receiver and booster, and set Don't worry about strong signals over-
the receiver tuning to 5 MHz, or whatever loading your SUPER DXER; it is virtually
frequency you selected for the "bottom immune to overload even from excessively
end." Adjust Cl for maximum received sig- strong signals. However the booster's out-
nal or noise ana mark the panel accordingly. put can be so high as to overload the input
Repeat the procedure at approximately 7, of some budget receivers. If this occurs
10, 14 and 15 (or 20) MHz. The panel simply reduce the booster's output by de-
markings are important because the SUPER tuning Cl just enough to drop the overall
DXER tuning is so sharp it must be preset signal strength below the receiver's over-
to near the desired frequency or you'll re- load value. Happy DX'ing.
Srarxc-SuMnsEfe. 1974 109
C1_ASSIFIEU
c7targèt c?irace
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For information on Classified ads --to be included in our next ELECTRONICS HOBBYIST
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Modular
construction
with plug -in
circuit boards
Automatic
degaussing
Automatic fine tuning
Automatic
tint control
Automatic
color control
BUILD 20 RADIO
Reg. U. S.
Pat. Off,
or I
Absolutely oearyv yeas knowledge of rradio singe x Tien
dìo or sscience The "Edu-Kit" is I
the idproduct many years of teaching ends experience.
wore. man th will
d
Electronics and Radio, worth many times the low You will learn trouble-shooting nd
provide you wof ith a basic educationa iin Es
With manner. You
servicing In a progressive the
price you pay. The signal Tracer alone is worth m re than the price of the kit. will practice repairs on sets that
you construct. You will learn symptoms
THE KIT FOR EVERYONE and causes of trouble in home. portable
and car radios. You will learn how to
You do not need the slightest background ages and backgrounds have successfully use the professional Signal Tracer, the
In radio or science. Whether you are inter- used the "Edo -Kit" in more than 79 coun- unique Signal Injector and the dynamic
ested in Radio & Electronics because you tries of the world. The "Edu -Kit" has been Radio & Electronics Tester. While you
want an interesting hobby, a you well paying carefully designed, step by step, so that are learning in this practical yy. you
will find
business or a job with a future, investment. you cannot make a istake. The 'Edu -Kit" will be able to do many a repair for
allows you to teach yourself at your own your friends and neighbors. and charge
theManyd uthousandsw all rate. No instructor is necessary. fees which will far exceed the price of
of ll.individuals f
Our Service
will help You , with any technical prob.
PROGRESSIVE TEACHING METHOD lems you may have.
The Progressive Radio "Etlu -Kit" is the foremost educational radio kit in the world.
the
and is
Kit" Uses the modern educational principle of 'Learn by Doing...
gnTherefo a youTconstruct.
-all
in a closely Integrated pre-
FROM OUR MAIL BAG
learn schematics, study theory, practice trouble shooting interesting J. Stataitis. of 25 Poplar Pl.. Water-
gram to have repaired
You begin by samining the various radioThenhpartsgel athe Edu- Kit. "background
You then learn dthe bury, Conn., for rites: I
function, theory and wiring oftothese parts. you build a simple radio. With this first several sets my friends, and made
paid itself.
Oct You will enjoy listening regular broadcast stations. learn theory, practice testing The
and trouble-shooting. Then you build a more advanced radio, learn more advanced theory was aeady. to spend, fera
o Course.
and techniques. Gradually. in a progressive manner, and at your own rate. You will but I found your ad and sent for your
find yourself constructing more advanced multi -tube radio circuits, and doing Work Ilke d Kit."
Ben Valerio, P. O. Box 21. Magna,
professional
Included n otthe
Technician.
du -it
course are Receiver, Transmitter, Code not
Tracer, Square Wave Generator and Signal Injector Circuits. These are
Oscillator, Signal
unprofessional
Utah: "The Etlu -Kits are wonderful.
I am ending you the questions and also
Here
have been In
"breadboard" experiments, but genuine radio circuits, constructed by means of professional the answers for them. I years, but like
wiring and soldering on metal chassis, plus the new method of radio a truction known Radio fer the last seven
your regular or DC house current. to work withTesting Radio Kits, and like to
as "Printed Circuitry." These circuits operate on AC
build Radio minute I Equipment. I en-
joyed every worked with the
THE "EDU -KIT" IS COMPLETE different kits; I the Signal Tracer
fine. Also like to let you
orks
know that I
nu w. receive parts and instructions necessary to build twenty different radio an. feel proud of becoming a member of your
Our Kits contain tubes, tube sockets, vari- Radio -TV Club."
-
Progressive "Edo- Kits" Inc., 1189 Broadway, Dept. 514EN. Hewlett. N.Y. 11557